Region 3 administration in talks with CH&PA

DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, February 1, 2018

The regional administration of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is currently in negotiations with Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to have the La Parfaite Harmonie and Tuschen Housing Scheme managed by the local organs.

“For a number of years now, these schemes (La Parfaite Harmonie and Tuschen Housing Scheme) have been established and it has been recognised that there is a need for improved infrastructural work. So, if these schemes are handed over it can be covered under the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs),” Jaikaran said, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The REO explained that since these schemes do not fall under the purview of the regional administration, the local organs are unable to provide the necessary assistance to further develop the communities.

Jaikaran opined, if approval is granted for this move, it will enable the NDCs to collect monies to execute necessary works for the schemes. “More persons would be paying taxes to the NDCs, so in terms of the level of the legality of what is to be done and who is to do what, that would be further established,” he explained.
The REO stressed that the move will benefit the residents of these communities since it will see the additional development of the roads, bridges, drainage trenches among other infrastructural upgrades.

Leading up to the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE), it was revealed that many of the newly created housing districts and communities have not been handed over to the relevant NDCs and Town Councils. This situation has deprived many local democratic organs of the requisite finances via rates and taxes which can be used to foster the development of the communities.

 

By: Neola Damon