In keeping with the administration’s promise of affording Guyanese home ownership, the Housing and Water Ministry’s One Stop Shop programme was taken to the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, on July 8, where 130 house lots were distributed to persons for Phase Two of the Onderneeming Housing Scheme.
A resident selects her lot number
Persons requiring house lots for the first time had the opportunity to make their applications at a One Stop Shop exercise, the sixth for this year. “The commitment of the government in particular, and the work of the Ministry of Housing and Water, is focused on ensuring that every Guyanese who so desires has the opportunity to own a home,” Housing and Water Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Emile McGarrell said at the event, held at the Anna Regina Town Council compound.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, in Phase Two of the Onderneeming Housing Scheme, there are approximately 1000 lots, and the permanent secretary assured that the ministry will be working towards the development of those lots.
Potential home owners will have access to drainage, roads, electricity and water. The Gy$54 million contract to develop water and access roads in the scheme is 90 per cent completed.
The sum of Gy$25 million will also be expended on installing electricity. In addition, works are on stream to develop a new well in the area, so that residents can benefit from potable water.
Since commencement of the One Stop Shop initiative, partnerships between private entities and the Housing Ministry have accelerated the process for application of house lots, and have assisted in providing the necessary resources to acquire homes.
Among the entities present to assist home owners at the One Stop Shop in Region Two were Courts Guyana Limited, Demerara Bank Limited, Republic Bank and Scotiabank, and Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance companies.
Region Two Chairman Ali Baksh stated that the People’s Progressive Party /Civic administration has succeeded in delivering house lots as outlined in the party’s 2006 manifesto.
He alluded to the significant improvements in the housing sector in Region Two and across the country, and noted that this venture is much appreciated by the residents. Baksh noted that the One Stop Shop is a project that brings immediate results. He said that the drive from the scheme to the road takes approximately five minutes, and with a better road network people should take advantage of the opportunity.
Under the theme, “Affordable Housing for All – establishing sustainable communities”, One Stop Shops were held in Regions Two, Four, Five, and Six for 2011.
