— first for 2012 to be convened within three weeks
THE first ‘One Stop Shop’ for 2012 will be convened by the Ministry of Housing and Water within the next three weeks, the responsible minister, Mr Irfaan Ali, announced Thursday. He spoke to the media at that ministry’s office at Brickdam and United Nations Place in Georgetown, and informed that more than 700 house lots will be allocated this time around.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) in a press release some time ago, that more than $452M has been invested in the housing sector since 2000 is testimony to government’s commitment to meeting the needs of all Guyanese, and ensuring equitable access to developmental resources.
“The Ministry of Housing and Water, particularly the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is pleased that it is able to continue what was started, that is, a comprehensive approach to meeting housing needs,” GINA had quoted Ali as saying.
The ministry resuscitated the ‘One Stop Shop’ strategy in 2009, and expanded and extended the community outreach to the regions by taking the services to communities, and collaborating with the financial and construction sectors.
This initiative involved active collaboration among the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), lending institutions, private developers and building contractors.
Twelve ‘One Stop Shop’ exercises were conducted in 2009 in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); Four (Demerara/Mahaica); Five (Mahaica/Berbice); Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), and Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).
The number of such exercises increased to 15 in 2010, and Ali’s plan was to have allocated an additional 17,000 house lots before the end of 2011; but to accomplish this, 18 ‘One Stop Shop’ events would have had to been scheduled.