GUYANA’s economic growth was led by the construction sector, whose vibrant expansion in private sector construction, buoyed by the national housing drive, among other factors, resulted in a 22.6 per cent growth in 2013.

Consequently, some $4.4B have been allocated to the Housing Ministry in the 2014 Budget to advance that ministry’s programmes and plans.

During his budget presentation in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh stated that Government’s vision for the housing sector is to further the realisation of better living conditions for Guyanese through the development of sustainable and viable communities.[box type=”shadow” align=”alignright” width=”300px” ]HIGHLIGHTS:
* Construction sector recorded growth of 22.6 per cent
* $4.4B allocated to the housing sector in 2014, an increase over $3.2B in 2013
* $2.4B allocated in 2013, and $2.5B set aside in 2014 for the water sector
* $544.6M to ensure a safe and efficient sanitation system
* Solid Waste Management Bill for Parliament this year[/box]

“We will not stop until every Guyanese is able to have access to adequate and affordable shelter,” he declared. “To this end, continued attention will be placed on developing new housing schemes, consolidating existing schemes, increasing the provision of turnkey homes, expanding the construction of core houses, increasing access to affordable housing and financing for housing, integrating new housing areas with existing neighbourhood democratic councils, and increasing occupancy,” Dr Singh disclosed.

ESSENTIAL SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
Housing & Water Minister Irfaan Ali told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the allocations will aid delivery of “essential” social programmes to benefit the Guyanese people. And, to this end, he called for reasoned debates that consider the impact the programmes and interventions budgeted for will have on the Guyanese population, more importantly in regard to improved livelihoods.
A total of 5,900 house lots, and processing as well as distribution of 4,100 land titles to new landowners are expected to be delivered in 2014.
In 2013, a total of $3.2B was spent to conduct eight One-Stop-Shop outreaches, which contributed to 4,417 lots being allocated and 5,326 titles being processed.
Housing scheme development is expected to continue at Eccles, Diamond, Anna Catherina, Uitvlugt, Bath, and No.77 Village, among other places; and through continuation of the public-private turnkey initiative, another 100 houses will be constructed and an additional 50 police officers, nurses and teachers will be allocated land to construct their homes.
Last year, several new housing schemes were developed or consolidated with existing ones, benefitting over 30,000 persons; and through the public-private turnkey housing initiative, more than 90 single-flat concrete houses were constructed, besides the 55 homes completed under the Young Professionals Housing Programme, which surpassed the 48 homes targeted.
This year, the housing sector is expected to see the completion and distribution of another 176 core houses; disbursement of 134 coastal home-improvement subsidies, valued at $26.8 million; and an additional disbursement of 54 hinterland subsidies, valued at $54 million, benefiting a total of 1,248 persons.
In 2013, under the Core House Pilot, 127 core houses were completed, enabling an additional 580 persons to benefit from improved housing; while an additional 153 subsidies were disbursed under the coastal home improvement programme, valued at $30.6M, resulting in improved living conditions for 627 persons.
Also, another 130 hinterland home improvement subsidies, valued at $107.2M, were granted, increasing access to affordable shelter by the most vulnerable communities.

WATER
In 2013, some $2.4B were allocated to expand safe, adequate and affordable water coverage across the length and breadth of the country; and this year, the figure budgeted for this venture is $2.5B.
Emphasis will be placed on the replacement of electro-mechanical equipment and infrastructure, continued construction of new water treatment facilities, network extension, and on metering.
The $2.5B is expected to facilitate drilling, construction and completion of wells in Cotton Tree, Hope, Mon Repos, Sparendaam and Sophia; the construction of water clarifiers and filters at Bartica and Eccles, the upgrade of service connections in East Berbice and Linden, and the installation of transmission and distribution mains in areas such as Vergenoegen, Victoria, Crabwood Creek, Angoy’s Avenue and Bartica.
Also, another two water treatment plants will be completed at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward, benefitting more than 30,000 residents in Region 10.
Additionally, water supply improvement works will be done in the hinterland communities of Waikerabi, Santa Rosa, Arau, Taruka, Kanapang, Kathur, Aishalton and St. Ignatius, benefitting approximately 20,000 residents.
Of note, also, is that with electricity charges soaring to approximately 60 percent of production costs, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has completed a comprehensive energy audit, and will commence implementing initiatives dedicated exclusively to replacing and re-engineering the electro-mechanical features of its pumps and equipment to bring them in line with modern energy-efficient technologies.
Of the $2.4B allocated to the water sector in 2013, $649.1M were spent to begin construction of two new water treatment plants, the installation of over 30 kilometres of transmission and distribution mains, and the upgrade of 1,500 service connections, benefiting residents of Linden.
Additionally, works continued on drilling of several wells, including exploratory drilling at Mabaruma. Works also commenced on the installation of transmission and distribution mains in Regions 3,5 and 6; and $160M were spent on the Hinterland Water Supply Programme, benefitting more than 15,000 persons.

SANITATION
The sanitation sector received an allocation of some $544.6M to ensure a safe and efficient sanitation system is established for the management and disposal of municipal solid waste and sewage, in order to protect the health and well-being of citizens.
In 2013, a sum of $546.5M was expended towards the continued rehabilitation of the Georgetown sewer system, along with the rehabilitation of 24 pumping stations.
In the area of solid waste management, commitment to address the detrimental impact of improper waste disposal was further reinforced by the enactment of the Environmental Protection Regulations of 2013, more popularly known as the “Litter Enforcement Regulations”.
Government has developed a draft Solid Waste Management Act which seeks to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to improve the conditions for waste management countrywide, establish a National Solid Waste Management Division within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, and develop waste management plans which will tackle the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste.
This year, efforts will build on these successes, with the completion of the sewer system in Central Georgetown, the sewer outfall in Georgetown, and the sewerage pumping station at Tucville.
The draft Solid Waste Management Bill is also being reviewed, and is expected to be tabled in the House later this year.
Additionally, $1.1B have been budgeted for the completion of civil works, and for operational expenses at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill, which processes 320 tonnes of solid waste daily.
A pilot programme composting and public awareness campaign on management and disposal of solid waste is also expected to come on stream.
The Housing and Water Minister has thus adumbrated the importance of the budgeted works to the people of Guyana.

(By Vanessa Narine)