GUYANA is set to witness massive development which will sweep the country over the next five years and improve the lives of all citizens from every corner, in every society, in every way.

Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali made this bold declaration as he alluded to the plans, programmes and policies contained in the People’s Progressive Party/civic’s (PPP/C) Manifesto that he said was designed with progress and growth in mind.

Alluding to the strategy for the continued expansion of the housing sector, Ali revealed that, through the ministry, 30,000 new house lots will be distributed across the country, in addition to the completion of the special remigrant housing scheme, under which, members of the Diaspora can construct and own a home.

He said: “The 30,000 house lots that we have in the manifesto, I think we will surpass that long before the end of five years. This will see the continued expansion on the East Bank of Demerara, on the East Coast of Demerara, in  Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), Region 1 (Barima/Waini) and  Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). It will be a massive development all across the country.”

In addition to the provision of new lots, Ali explained that several other areas of importance were also addressed, key among them, the issue of squatting.

“In the Manifesto, we plan to do several things, one is to bring squatting to an end through sunset legislation, that will see an end day to squatting and also to put in place specific measures that will see the avoidance of squatting in the future,” the Housing Minister stated.

He said  staff of the Ministry of Housing have been working diligently to ensure that all projects slated for completion by year end are concluded.
“We are wrapping up most of our work this year and we will finish our work programme long before the end of November. Our only outstanding work is to have the remigrant scheme completed and, hopefully, within another two months, we will see a completion date. Added to this, we only have the Leonora ‘One Stop Shop’ to complete,” Ali reported.
He said infrastructural works in Leonora, West Coast Demerara, are 90 percent completed and lots are expected to be ready for allocation by the end of this month, during the Housing Ministry’s 14th One Stop Shop for this year.

In 2009, there were 12 One Stop Shop exercises in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 while, in 2010, there were 15 such exercises in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8.
Other key promises in the PPP/C Manifesto, under housing, water and sanitation include the construction of more water treatment plants along coastal regions, while boreholes and wells would also be installed where needed.

There are also plans for the expansion of solar-driven water systems in the hinterland, the upgrading of the Georgetown Sewer System and increased support for solid waste disposal systems, particularly at the community level.