By Rabindra Rooplall

GOVERNMENT will take a holistic approach to housing development as opposed to random allocation of house lots, according to Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams.This was disclosed at a consultative workshop on a National Housing Profile for Guyana at Cara Lodge last Thursday.

Present at the event were UNDP representative Khadija Musa; Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams; CEO, Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA) Myrna Pitt; Chairman of CHPA Hamilton Green; Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams; UN housing consultant, Dr Graham Tipple; and stakeholders representatives.
“We have argued that housing development must be part of a planned development of settlements and we have made a commitment to reduce and eventually eradicate unplanned housing development, particularly along the coastland,” the Housing Minister noted.
She said further that the rights to adequate housing is a universal right and whatever a person’s position in society, they need to live in peace, harmony and a healthy environment.
“As minister I am particularly concerned of the opportunity housing affords. I want to improve the living standards of households of no or low affordability…. Adequate housing will help this category of persons to meaningfully commence the journey away from poverty,” Minister Adams explained.
STRATEGIC HOUSING

Underscoring that the Government is aiming for strategic housing planning, Minister Adams said previously a house lot was issued to someone and in many cases they are unable to access the lot because of its location in an undeveloped community or scheme that has no proper infrastructure.
“We are not just going to give you a houselot but we will give you a plot of land with roads, drainage, electricity and water.”
There will also be plans for hinterland development, the Housing Minister said, and there will be no bias in Guyana’s developmental pattern which requires a sound understanding of the sector.
Underscoring that the programme is timely and stakeholder participation is important, the minister noted that everyone attending the workshop should have a meaningful input.
“I do hope that this initiative sets the stage for many more such collaborations and collaborative efforts to improve conditions in Guyana’s settlement sector. I do appreciate that a study of this sector will take time and will be challenged by data availability issues…” she noted.
Meanwhile Pitt said it is envisaged that the National Housing Profile will provide special Government financing scenarios aimed at providing adequate solutions for low, moderate income and vulnerable households, in addition to an analysis of the financial sector and options available for financing and assessment of ease of access loans linked to the ability to occupy houselots.
CITY PLANNING
UNDP representative Musa said there needs to be city planning to build a proper community to enhance the lives of the populace.
The UN envoy explained that Guyana’s housing structures are based on family-based homes, but with the new generations “young people who cannot afford to buy a house, build a house or rent a house which will be a lot more expensive, require diversification in the types of housing. Young professionals who just started working, couples who do not have children and the growing population need different types of housing.”
Musa further explained that many people continue to live at home with their parents because they cannot afford a house. The diversification in apartment buildings and condominiums give people a choice, depending on their needs.
He added that Guyana is a privileged country with vast land space and the need to formulate a plan on what cities will be built is absolutely crucial.
“The damage that was done before in city planning or the lack thereof will have to be dealt with…”