President Bharrat Jagdeo told persons given house lots in the New Eccles Housing Scheme that they should not just buy the land and hope it will grow in value, but rather build on it.
His comments were made at the Housing and Water Ministry’s One Stop Shop exercise conducted at the National Stadium on June 09th.
In urging persons to build, the president cautioned that repossession is not the best option, but it is sometimes necessary when people “speculate with the land”.
President Bharrat Jagdeo assisted this youngster in choosing a lot at the New Eccles Housing Scheme for his mother during the Housing Ministry’s One Stop Shop exercise at the National Stadium on June 9
Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said that the project is part of government’s vision to transform the lives of Guyanese for the better. He pointed out that the aim is to develop the project through partnerships involving the private sector, government and other stakeholders. Minister Ali also explained that the new Eccles scheme was a promise made by the current administration, which is now a reality. According to him, a new shopping mall and manufacturing and industrial companies will also be established in the housing scheme.
The housing minister pointed out that the goal to distribute 15,000 house lots in the next five years is well on stream, and that goal will be surpassed. He encouraged the new owners to make good use of the land, while reminding them that more lots will be distributed by the end of this year in other areas.
More than 4,500 house lots will be distributed by August of this year in Bath Settlement, West Berbice; Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo; Amelia’s Ward, Linden; Leonora and Recht door Zee, West Coast Demerara; Herstelling, East Bank Demerara; and Good Hope and Hope South, East Coast Demerara.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo reassured the gathering that government has several plans for the country’s development, and will continue to focus on key social areas such as housing, health and education. Jagdeo said when the East Bank Housing Development project has been completed, more than 10,000 house lots would have been allocated aside from lots for commercial and industrial businesses that are to be set up within the area. He encouraged the gathering to make use of the opportunity, as it will help them to achieve future goals.
The president pointed out that it is his government’s goal to ensure that every Guyanese owns a house and lead a productive life in the future. The head of state also took the opportunity to reveal other developmental plans. These include: building new technical institutes at Leonora and Mahaicony; expanding the four-lane highway all the way to Timehri; and acquiring more land from GuySuCo to develop more housing schemes.
The president stated that the current interest rate for mortgages has been lowered tremendously. Jagdeo pointed out that, from discussions with commercial banks and the huge housing drive taking place, it is now much easier to acquire a housing loan with better interest rates.
The ‘One Stop Shop’ strategy, which is intended to speed up the process of obtaining house lots, was implemented in 2009 and extended to the out-of-town communities.
This initiative involves active collaboration among the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), lending institutions, private developers and building contractors. Twelve ‘One Stop Shop’ exercises were conducted in 2009 through Regions Two to Seven, and Nine and 10. The number of such exercises increased to 15 in 2010; and the ministry is trying to allocate an additional 17,000 house lots before the end of this year. To accomplish the latter, 18 ‘One Stop Shop’ exercises are scheduled, with three already completed.
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