Third International Building Expo launched

– Gov’t building road to link ECD to EBD

By Michael Younge

The 2012 International Building Exposition was launched last Friday evening at the Princess International Hotel, with government announcing that it is building a road to link the East Bank and the East Coast of Demerara. The international exposition which attracts scores of construction firms from around the region and locally was launched by President Donald Ramotar under the theme “Embracing Standards Building the future”.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali announced that his ministry was in the process of commencing a project that would see the bridging of the East Coast and East Bank corridors by the construction of a road through the backlands. He said the road would connect Eccles, EBD and Ogle, Cummings Lodge on the ECD.
Ali said the investment has already started with government opening up some 5000 acres of land on the East Bank corridor. He announced that already some 2500 house lots have been distributed along the East Bank, while noting that 2000 more Guyanese are to benefit from house lots in the future. Some 40 industrial and commercial lots have also been distributed already.
“We have opened up a road that is 25 feet wide through the third entrance of the National Stadium to the first cross dam, linking to the East Coast,” he told the audience. He said that such a road was critical towards linking the developmental agenda and work of his ministry, while fast-tracking government investment in the provision of housing and development services to the ordinary Guyanese. “And all we have to do now is to build a collectors lane from Diamond to the East Coast, and they are already connected to the first major highway” on the East Coast, he disclosed.
The housing minister also announced more plans for the construction, housing and building sectors. He recommitted to surpassing the 30,000 house lots target set over the next five years, while reassuring President Ramotar that his team will also meet the 6500 target set for this year, regardless of the budget cuts.
“We are also to open up 220 acres of land at Kilcoy in Region Six that would see 900 lots being made available, and 20 acres at Hope Experience…,” he disclosed, announcing other areas that would benefit from expansion and government investment in the critical sectors.
Ali also announced his ministry’s intention to work with investors to establish a new community along the Soesdyke/Linden highway. Referring to the community as “the alternative city”, Ali said that he has long discussed the vision and hopes to make it a reality, because many people are concerned about the threats of global warming, living on the coastline and the threats posed by climate change.
Admitting that even though there are challenges in the construction and building sector, the housing minister reported that at least four new Trinidadian firms are interested in doing business in Guyana.
He said that at least one of those sectors wanted to build and finance a housing project for the professional/ middle income market in Guyana. Minister Ali told the packed audience that last year alone, government injected some Gy$ 9 billion into the sector. He said too that in 2011, some 15 private sector partners injected US$ 17 million into the sector.
The senior government minister said the administration continues to partner with corporate Guyana devising plans and strategies through which nurses, teachers and young professionals could benefit from loans and house lots.
He called for a national think-tank to be established to address the concerns of those in the building and construction sector, echoing the position taken by the Private Sector Commission Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo.
Meanwhile, President Ramotar, who spoke briefly, said his government is looking at establishing an alternative incentive regime for builders and construction firms that utilised new materials and technology to advance work in the sector.
Ramotar lauded the work of the ministry calling it “A jewel in the crown of government”, as he underscored the impact that the booming housing, building and construction sectors have had on the improvement of the lives of Guyanese. Referring to the transformative effect the sector has had under the leadership of Minister Ali, the president said it has led to poverty alleviation and job creation as some 24,000 house lots have been allocated between 2007 and 2011.