Skip to main content

FM
Former Member
Region Three transformation beyond expectations -Minister Ali
-tells houselot applicants at Zeelugt One Stop Shop, 500 house lots allocated


Georgetown, GINA, September 2, 2011
Source - GINA

A section of potential homeowners at the One Stop Shop exercise at Uitvlugt Community Centre, who will be benefiting from 500 house lots at the new Zeelugt Housing Scheme, Region 3 (A GINA Photo by Leroy Lyttle)

Five hundred people were today brought closer to realizing their dream of home ownership, joining thousands of other Guyanese who are today proudly enjoying a comfortable life and improved standard of living.

At a One Stop Shop at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, Region Three, the applicants and family members flocked the centre to have their applications processed for houselots at Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara.

Middle income, low middle income and the low income house lots were distributed to the 500 applicants.

Housing is a major sector of Region Three and over the past decade more than $23B has been invested in this sector, creating more than 23,000 lots and benefiting over 94,000 Guyanese.

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, addressing the huge gathering, reiterated Government’s commitment to developing and advancing the social development of the country and, providing access to basic facilities including in housing, education, sanitation, road, water and electricity.

Minister Ali indicated that about 2600 new lots would be available in Region Three this year alone with 1000 more lots are to be available at Zeelugt and 200 at Leonora, among other areas.

“Government understands the critical role that housing plays in transforming the lives of people and improving the family unit, bringing families closer so we must appreciate and understand this huge progress that has been made in the housing sector in Region Three particularly which has been one of the centre of growth in the housing programme in Guyana,” Minister Ali said.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali addressing potential home owners at the One Stop Shop exercise at Uitvlugt Community Centre, Region 3 (A GINA Photo by Leroy Lyttle)

Within the next five years, Minister Ali said another 500 house lots in the existing Zeelugt scheme will be allocated to cater for the demand in the Region.

“If one is to look at the investment at Zeelugt, we would have invested more than $460M. It would bring benefit to almost 3500 persons directly and of course if you look at the average cost per household or house lot we are talking about $650,000,” Minister Ali informed applicants.

He reassured residents of Government’s commitment of meeting the dream of every single Guyanese in owning a home notwithstanding political rhetoric to derail its investment to improve the lives of Guyanese.

Government has already advanced $60M to the Guyana Power and Light to commence work on the electricity network in Zeelugt.

“In order to accelerate the access to the lots and to ensure that you can start preparing yourself for the construction of your homes we have started infrastructure work which is already 70% completed and by the time you would have completed administrative works, finalizing your house lot, applying for your loans preparing yourself to build the your dream home, the works will be completed,” Minister Ali said.

Region Three, he said is part of the dynamic transformation taking place in Guyana where development is far exceeding residents’ expectations.

Big development plans for Region Three

Minister Ali reminded the gathering of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent announcement that plans are in the pipeline to construct a four-lane road, extending from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

This, he said is as a result of “the high demand, the high traffic demand in the region because more people now own vehicles; there are more families living here so ultimately the demand on the roadways is indeed greater”.

He said that due to Government’s policies in diversifying it services, that “we have been able to develop equitable development, equitable transfer of wealth and the opportunities in every single region across the country”.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali interacting with an applicant at the One Stop Shop exercise at Uitvlugt, Region 3

Region Three, has a modern diagnostic centre at Leonora and modern regional hospital which conducts a number of surgeries and provides a range of services.

“I want to assure you of Government’s commitment in ensuring that all our people have access to these facilities and we would work hard now and in the future … because I am sure if you look within you conscience you will realize that this Government is a committed Government and would ensure that leadership is committed and continue into the future so that your aspirations, dreams and can be met,” Minister Ali said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Myrna Pitt touted the recently concluded international building a huge success and hoped that potential home owners would have taken advantage of the opportunity to view the wide range of materials, designs and accessories that are currently available on the market to make their dream home a reality.

She said that the CHPA continues to consolidate and pursue partnerships with stakeholders in the building and construction sector, to ensure that the housing delivery process is efficient.

The authority, she added will continue to monitor and assess its performance to ensure maximum and quality service is delivered to the public.

“The success of Government’s interventions in the sector is there for all to see…there has been tremendous growth in the building and construction sector for the past 18 years with massive investments which continue to grow and is projected to grow again in 2011,” Pitt said.

Staffers of the Ministry of Housing and Water processing applications at the One Stop Shop exercise, Uitvlugt, Region

The consolidated partnership of public/private entities, she said has contributed greatly to the improvement of the quality of life for Guyanese, since homeownership and benefits impact significantly on the social and economic life of the nation and on individuals.

“Together we seek to harness positive energies and maintain the momentum to bring about the phenomenal growth and development of the housing and construction sectors in our country and by extension transforming the lives of Guyanese,” Pitt said.

Meanwhile, Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber informed residents of other aspects of progress taking place in the region inclusive of better road access, new schools, health center and recreational facilities.

He also urged residents to occupy their lots in a timely manner and to make good use of the facility being provided by the Government in their respective schemes.

Today’s One Stop Shop event is the eighth hosted by the Ministry for the year 2011 and complements in excess of 50 percent of the Ministry’s target for 2011.

In 2009, there were 12 One Stop Shop exercises in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10; while in 2010, there were 15 such interventions carried out in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8.

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×