500 more lots distributed in continuing housing drive
SOME 85,000 people have derived benefit, over the last 10 years, from the robust Ministry of Housing drive, in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) alone. And that is from a total investment of $12 billion in the sector, Housing and Water Minister, Mr. Irfaan Ali disclosed yesterday, at the Ministry’s 12th ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise, through which approximately 500 lots were distributed for Recht-Door-Zee.
“We have committed ourselves to the task of ensuring that the primary function of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is met in a way that brings to bear a modern approach to home ownership and housing development,” he said.
Emphasising the extent of development of housing schemes in that region, Ali pointed out that the Government has invested more than $340M only in Recht-Door-Zee.
“The Government has been able to continue to invest in key and critical areas like housing and it is important for us to understand this. If you look at the total investment, with all infrastructure works completed, including electricity, it amounts to $340M,” he explained.
Ali said the maximum revenue to be collected after yesterday’s allocation would be in the vicinity of $74M, which means that allottees  have been subsidised to the tune of $286M by the Government.
It is of paramount importance to highlight this aspect as there are sections of the media which seek to “mislead and manipulate” the facts and the truth to suit their own agenda, he stated.
The minister urged the beneficiaries in the audience to take into account their fortunate circumstances and consider themselves lucky to be living in a country where the economy is resilient enough to withstand global pressures and maintain the ability to grow.
Of the total of 740 lots available in the Recht-Door-Zee scheme, Ali announced that 200 will be set aside for nurses, teachers and police officers who have applied to the ministry.

SPECIAL PILOT
“We will be allocating close to 740 lots in this scheme, 500 here today and we have 200 lots set aside for a special pilot,” he added.
Ali said that is in keeping with the Government’s integrated approach to housing through which about 72 families from several squatter settlements will also benefit from lots in the scheme.
They include 10 families from Best Plastic City (Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara); 12 from East Ruimveldt Front Road; five from West Ruimveldt Front Road; 10 families who were left homeless after the fire in Barrack Street, Kingston; and 13 from a similar disaster in Lombard Street, also in Georgetown; two from Herstelling Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara; and 20 from Turkeyen/Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
“Another important aspect of the housing programme is the clearing up of squatter settlements and the opening up of housing opportunities and we have kept our promise in offering these persons house lots, a total of 72 families in those areas outlined who have been considered key and critical and would be allocated here today,” Ali said.
The Core House Pilot will also be implemented in this housing scheme, as testimony to the ministry’s drive to further increase the occupancy rates in the new schemes, he said.
Ali congratulated the beneficiaries and reminded them that they are part of a bigger agenda, where their contribution will go towards the continuous development of the country and to the wider society.