More than 1075 get house lots in “One Stop Shop” exercise

Hundreds of Guyanese families were on Thursday counting their good fortune as they moved one step closer to realising the dream of owning their homes through the Housing and Water Ministry’s ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
In his address to the beneficiaries, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said the process of building a brighter and better future for themselves and future generations was taken one step further. “It is a process that leads to strengthening of personal fulfillment and demonstrates the single most accomplishment of a family unit,” Minister Ali said.
The housing programme, he said, forms one of the most important pillars of the government’s development drive in the social sector, and despite many challenges, the administration is committed to ensuring that the dream of homeownership is made possible for every single Guyanese, regardless of their race or economic status.
The government understands the critical role of home ownership in transforming people’s economic stability and improving the family unit, so it will continue to make necessary investments to afford more Guyanese the opportunity of owning their homes, Ali said.
“The One Stop Shop exercise offers a unique opportunity for easier access of doing business with the Housing Ministry… this also demonstrates the level of accountability and transparency at the ministry,” he explained.
The development of the new housing area in Providence, he said, costs in excess of Gy$1 billion, as swampland is transformed into modern lots. The programme saw the installation of 30 kilometres (km) of pipelines, as well as the construction of 30 km of access roads, 100 drainage structures, and 20 access bridges. Government, he said would have invested in excess of Gy$1.2 million in subsidies for each house lot that will be allocated to high, middle, moderate middle income and low income families.
In addition to this, he said, the ministry this year will complete phase one of the remigrants’ scheme, and phase two of Herstelling and Plantation Farm schemes, making available more than 1700 house lots.
Minister Ali also said that the Housing Ministry this year will be investing in excess of Gy$4.1 billion on the East Bank that will see the upgrading of several miles of road in Diamond, construction of a new Mocha/Arcadia access road, and development of more house lots.
He 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.
Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer Myrna Pitt, who also addressed the gathering, said the “One Stop Shop” strategy implemented by the ministry has enabled hundreds of applicants to speed up the process of building their homes.
The massive housing drive, she said, has seen thousands upon thousands of Guyanese now enjoying a comfortable life and improved standard of living. Thursday’s activity is the first “One Stop Shop” for this year and exposed prospective homeowners to a range of services, including in the insurance, banking and manufacturing sectors. (GINA)