At Corentyne, Berbice…
THE Ministry of Housing and Water hosted another ‘One Stop Shop’ at Rose Hall Community Centre in Corentyne, Berbice on Wednesday in its continuing drive to make more Guyanese home owners.
Applicants were given the opportunity to select their house lots in the Ordnance/Fortlands Scheme, along with a comprehensive package of services that pave the way for the processing of titles and construction.
Addressing the gathering on that occasion, Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali said the measurement of development is in the ability of Government to transform the infrastructure so that people may benefit, efficiency increases and, most importantly, the economy grows.
He said Berbice is on the brink of realising tremendous growth and that home ownership is an integral part of preparing for the impact.
“Today, you will receive more than 200 house lots with benefits to over 1,000 persons. I want to assure you, in Region Six, that your lives would be impacted in a positive way,” Ali told the gathering.
Emphasising the importance of the exercise, he said home ownership will become increasingly important as the economy in that Region expands, resulting in escalating rentals.
Consequently, the initiative is to make sure that all, including the vulnerable, are in an equitable position.
“The opportunities are rich in the Ordnance/Fortlands area. So, my advice to you is to grab them and I am confident we will all reap the rewards,” Ali stated.
He hinted that the proposed bridging of the Corentyne River would lead to more housing development in the Moleson Creek/Crabwood Creek part of Corentyne.
COMMITTED
Assuring those present that the Government remains committed to investing in the interest of the people, Ali said: “If we have to make a choice of spending $4 billion on housing, we will do it again and again, as it impacts everyone in society.”
He encouraged the residents to expect more development in the Region as the Ministry intends to return there, by year end, for another ‘One Stop Shop’.
Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha acknowledged the event as an historic one and that there has been tremendous development in the housing sector, with 78,000 house lots distributed within the last 10 years.
“This is a great achievement, as more persons are becoming home owners,” he agreed, disclosing that both Minister Ali and President Bharrat Jagdeo have advised him to look for more land across the Region.
Referring to the benefits of the ‘One Stop Shop’, Mustapaha lauded the Minister and the Ministry for their efforts, describing the services offered as revolutionary.
Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Ms. Myrna Pitt congratulated all of the successful applicants and urged them to finalise the details for beginning construction.
She pointed to the many benefits of home ownership, among them stability, security and the provision of economic stimulus.
“It is a solid decision and one that speaks to your desire to consolidate family life, invest in your future as well as contribute, in a positive way, to the community of which you will be a part,” Pitt posited.
INTERACTED
Representatives of commercial banks, hardware, furniture and manufacturing businesses as well as housing developers also interacted with the future home owners.
The programme also included presentations by CHPA officials on building standards and requirements, community planning procedures and on the Core House Pilot for Ordnance/Fortlands scheme.
Through the latter, Government aims to build 400 core (starter) homes for low income allottees.
The project, to be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to improve the quality of life of low income families through better access to housing, will be implemented in 20 pre-selected new and existing schemes, as well as squatter settlements.
The plan is to erect 25 core homes in Ordnance/Fortlands Phase Two, on Lots 365-379 and Lots 440-456.