CLOSE scrutiny of the $150M allocation to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) resulted in the approval of the allocation by the National Assembly Wednesday evening, which in turn led to the approval of the total sum of $3.1B allocated to the Housing Sector.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali, under questioning, stated clearly that the entire sum threatened was allocated solely for the payment of salaries of the 140 staff members of the entity.
Questioning from the Opposition benches targeted the salaries of the most highly paid members of staff, and whether there were persons employed with the relevant skills needed for the agency. Minister Ali, in his response, explained how the CHPA was able to acquire $2.1B in savings from having trained personnel on board, preventing the outsourcing of programmes and projects.
Questions also targeted the low income housing programme, and following the pattern set by other ministers before him, no question remained unanswered. Regarding the processing of applications, he explained how the system of demand and supply operated in the various regions and dictated the time of the processing.
On the prolonged time for processing faced by Region 4 applicants, the minister explained that the main cause of this stemmed from the fact that applicants from this region do not want to move out of the region and the paucity of lots becoming available for allocation has slowed the process.
Questions related to the Paradise Housing Scheme were not directly applicable to the Housing Programme, since it fell under the Co-operatives Society programme and could not be addressed by the minister.
A Partnership for National Unity Member of Parliament, Carl Greenidge, who tabled the motion to cut the allocation, posed questions asking about the total low income lots allocated by the CHPA, and how many of these have been occupied. He quoted a 2007 report from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) which stated that only half of the allocated lots were occupied. Minister Ali pointed out that an update would show that there has been significant improvement since then, and figures regarding all applications up to 2011 show that 65% of persons have built on their allocations.
The allocation for the sector will ensure the distribution of 5,900 house lots this year, along with the processing and distribution of over 4,000 land titles. In addition, a total of 210 additional core houses will be constructed and distributed.
Further, over 200 home improvement subsidies will be distributed to families on the coastland, and 125 to hinterland families. Also in 2013, government will advance preparation of a young professional housing programme, with semi-gated communities being developed to meet the needs of this demographic group.

Water
Meanwhile, the $2.7 B budgeted for the water sector was also approved without being questioned. The allocation will go towards increasing the level and quality of potable water supply to new areas through the upgrade of distribution systems, installation of transmission mains, improved service connections, metering, construction of new boreholes, the construction and completion of wells at Cotton Tree, Hope, Sparendaam and Lochaber, the upgrade of service connections on the East Coast Demerara and East Berbice, and the construction of a storage tank at Bartica which, together, will benefit over 82,000 people in Regions 2 to 7.
Also, the water supply system in areas such as Kara Kara, Noitgedacht, Nottinghamshire, Watooka and Richmond Hill, benefitting over 5,000 people, will be upgraded.
In addition, two water treatment plants at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward will be constructed, and transmission mains and district meters installed, thereby benefitting approximately 30,000 residents.
These projects are expected to provide for the reduction of non-revenue water, improved level of service, reliability, water quality, and improved treated water coverage.
In keeping with the development of the hinterland communities and improving the quality of life of indigenous people, the sum of $160 million is budgeted for the Hinterland Water Supply Programme, which will benefit more than 15,000 people in Regions 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10.