Saturday, June 11, 2011

1000 houselots allocated at One Stop Shop drive

IN keeping with the government’s vision of ensuring that every citizen enjoys an improved quality of life, the Ministry of Housing allocated close to 1,000 house lots on Thursday last during the fourth One Stop Shop for 2011, at the National Stadium, Providence.

CEO of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Ms.Myrna Pitt, assisting a future resident of the Eccles Housing Scheme at the One Stop Shop exercise.

More than 3000 persons gathered there to witness and to participate in the life-changing event that will see even more Guyanese citizens and families having a chance to own their own homes in the Eccles Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara.
Addressing the gathering, President Bharrat Jagdeo pointed to the significance of the event, which he noted will result in even more persons having a stake in their country.
As to the vision behind this strategy, he said, “It all ties back to a greater philosophy of the government…it is largely an approach where we see national growth as the aggregate wealth of individuals.”
He noted that in the past, the state had too much of an overwhelming presence in people’s lives and controlled some 80 percent of all economic activities in Guyana, and by extension, most of its assets, particularly land, a reality which the PPP/C administration has moved away from.
“We believe that if you have an aggressive programme where every Guyanese can have access to resources, then they can start the process of accumulation,” President Jagdeo explained.
This accumulation, he stressed, is a critical factor in national development.
Continuing, the Head of State explained that to this end, investments are continually being made in the housing sector to facilitate economic growth and facilitate the growth in families’ wealth.
In light of this, Jagdeo refuted claims in certain sections of the media which suggest that the housing programme targets individuals of certain economic standing and that it will create a ‘housing bubble’, and pointed to the advantages of the programme.

Continued Expansion

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali addresses citizens’ concerns at the National Stadium.

President Jagdeo assured the gathering that the development along the East Bank corridor will continue to move apace as the country moves forward.
Alluding to this development, he stated, “We have to move forward, Georgetown will be expanded all the way to Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, the government plans to utilise all of the land acquired from GuySuCo, worth $4B, which will see the development of 10,000 lots.”
In keeping with the developmental trajectory, Jagdeo revealed that there are plans to acquire more land, which will result in the massive extension of the urban area, which in turn will require the expansion of existing infrastructure, including the Diamond Hospital and the four-lane highway.
In addition, he disclosed that the expansion may also include the development of a further two lanes of roadway from Mocha Village on the East Bank of Demerara to Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, to further ease the traffic congestion.
Amidst concerns surrounding the new Haags Bosch landfill site, situated in the new scheme, the president assured the future residents that this too has been designed, using state-of-the-art technology so that residents will not be affected.
“US$12M has been invested in the Haags Bosch site which will see the installation of proper drainage underground and the installation of filter systems found in sites abroad,” he explained.

President Bharrat Jagdeo assures the gathering of the PPP/C’s commitment to ensuring that every single Guyanese enjoys an improved quality of life

Added to this, a buffer zone comprising various factories will separate the site from the residential area.
He explained that the massive development underway has nothing to do with the fact that this year is an election year, as the project was started two years ago with the initial purchase of the land.
Congratulating the impending homeowners, President Jagdeo said, “I’m convinced that Guyana has to have every single family owning their own house and we can do this.”

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