Minister Ali outlines 2012 plans for housing, water sectors
THE Ministry of Housing and Water will continue to fulfil its mandate, by serving the people of Guyana through the delivery of services in the most efficient, reliable and cost effective manner. Minister with the portfolio, Mr. Irfaan Ali gave the undertaking last week, during a media briefing in the ministry’s boardroom, on Brickdam, Georgetown, where he highlighted the plans for 2012.
“We have identified a number of weak areas as well as strengths, which we will have to work on. Our vision is very strong, the Building Expo has derived its own benefits and, in the next three years, we have set a target in the water sector and are hoping, by this time, to be able to break even,” he said.
Alluding to initiatives for implementation in the water sector, Ali said Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has plans to restructure the tariff system and “bring it in line with the more modern, pro-active, incentive based system.”
Explaining its benefits, he said: “Around the world, the main issue today is water conservation technology. So we want to ensure that those who put proper conservation methods in place and those who are not caught in the wastage category also benefit, in terms of the bill they pay. We will have a progressive rate and structure that we are working on.”
The minister said the housing sector will see an expansion of the public/private partnership, particularly with the financial institutions.
This will also include the expansion of the Building Expo, from a national event to a regional one, he stated.
“This is one of our aims for next year, to work with Governments, throughout CARICOM, to make Guyana the destination of the Caribbean Construction EXPO in 2012. Whilst we are focusing on Guyana’s Building Expo, we are working actively on making Guyana the venue for the Caribbean Building and Construction Expo in 2012,” Ali disclosed.
He said the benefits to be derived from the expansion of this event are many fold, because it will bring with it tremendous growth; serve and enhance the country’s image and also augur well for the Private Sector.