HOUSING and Water Minister, Collin Croal has committed to implementing better policy measures that are geared to ensuring improved services that are offered by agencies that fall under his ministry. The minister made this commitment as he engaged residents of the Essequibo Coast during his first ministerial visit to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
The minister conducted a series of community meetings in villages on the Essequibo Coast, where he outlined the government’s programmes and policies for the development of the region and country at large.

Meetings were held at Charity, Anna Regina, and Onderneeming, Sand Pit/ Red Village. During his first meeting, which was held with regional officials, programme heads, and heads of government agencies at State House, Anna Regina, the call for better government services in the region was made.
Leading the list of complaints was the long wait for house lot allocation, titles, and a number of irregularities in the application process. Squatting in some schemes along the coast also remains a bugbear for legitimate residents of these communities.
Speaking to the housing sector, Minister Croal announced that there will be a complete revamping of the housing operations in Region Two, which will see the establishment of a fully staffed and equipped regional housing office.

This, the minister said, is needed to ensure that a higher level of service is rendered to citizens.
To this end, the minister said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has already opted to make a building available to facilitate the operations of the Housing Ministry. Minister Croal also used the opportunity to warn against squatting, as he called on the regional officials to aid the ministry in fighting against this illegal practice.
Reiterating the ministry’s zero-tolerance approach to squatting, the minister reminded citizens that applying to the Ministry of Housing is the only legal pathway to access a residential house lot from the government.

Persons were told of the Government’s plan to develop some 22 areas across the country for new housing developments. In addition to the distribution of 10,000 allocations annually, the minister spoke of the Public-Private Partnerships which will enhance the Government’s housing drive.
Citing projects which were catered for in the 2020 National Budget, Minister Croal said these funds will kick-start the long-term housing drive. The monies, he said, will be used for the clearing of new lands, and the construction of access bridges. In the new year, work will commence on infrastructure development in these areas.
Speaking to issues in the water sector, the minister spoke of long and short-term interventions which will be completed in the coming months.
In his response to the poor quality of water, the minister made mention of the GWI’s plans to ensure there is frequent flushing of water systems, which, he said will aid in improving the quality of water. Additionally, plans are in train for the digging of water wells, the rehabilitation of existing ones, and the construction of new pump stations in unserved areas.