SINCE Mr. Irfan Ally assumed the post of Minister of Housing and Water, land distribution and allocation in all regions have become a priority for all under the one-stop shop.

Pent up demand of land for housing and increasing levels of homelessness will soon come to and end. Land distribution and allocation had not been a priority for decades under the former regime, there will always be allegations of corruption, transparency and favouritism.

Members of the opposition are now a part of the land selection committees even in regions where they have no public support they can now overlook the practice of transparency, in the allocation and distribution of house lots. In the past the practice lacked transparency, with widespread subjectivity, favoritism and ad hoc practices in the distribution of state lands.

According to Tuesday June 23, 2009 Kaieteur News The Ministry of Housing and Water is prepared to address reports allegations by Lindeners that people living overseas have received house lots and that spouses have benefited from separate allocations. The National Policy on land and House Lot Distribution, March 2002 was adopted and implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Water with strict guidelines to ensure equity and transparency with the objective of enabling every Guyanese to own their house.

The sound policies and programmes of the one-shop by Minister Irfan Ally have already impacted positively on all segments of the population by providing the opportunity of tens of thousands of Guyanese to own a house lot and build their own homes and providing easier access to finance with relatively lower interest rates and longer repayment periods. Providing security of tenure to thousands of allottees through the granting of land titles with the objective of substantially reducing, if not eliminating the back-log over the next five years.

In my eight years tenure as a Director I have known the Land Development and Administrative Manager, Miss Denise King Tudor whom the allegation is peddle against will used the criteria for the evolution of applications for the award of house lots with the strictest conformity as set out by the Ministry of Housing and Water. The current one-stop shop system of house lot allocation is designed to ensure equity and transparency.
MOHAMED KHAN
Former Director CH&PA