Region Two Housing sector operations to be revamped
Minister of Housing and Water, the Hon. Collin Croal has committed to implementing better policy measures geared at ensuring improved services are offered by agencies that fall under his Ministry. The Minister made this commitment as he engaged residents of the Essequibo Coast, during his first ministerial visit to Pomeroon-Supenaam, Region Two.
The Minister conducted a series of community meetings in villages on the Essequibo Coast, where he outlined the Government’s programmes and policies for the development of the region and country at large. Meetings were held at Charity, Anna Regina, and Onderneeming Sand Pit/Red Village. During his first meeting, which was held with Regional officials, programme heads, and heads of Government agencies, at State House, Anna Regina, he called for better Government services in the region.
Leading the list of complaints was the long wait for house lot allocations, titles, and a number of irregularities in the application process. Squatting in some schemes along the coast also remains a bugbear for legitimate residents of these communities.
Minister Croal announced that there will be a complete revamp of the housing operations in Region Two. This will see the establishment of a fully staffed and equipped Regional Housing office. This, the Minister said, is needed to ensure that a higher level of service is rendered to citizens. To this end, the Regional Democratic Council has already opted to make a building available to facilitate the operations of the Housing Ministry. Minister Croal also used the opportunity to warn against squatting, as he called on the regional officials to help the Ministry to curb this illegal practice. Reiterating the Ministry’s zero-tolerance approach to squatting, Minister Croal reminded citizens that applying to the Ministry of Housing is the only legal pathway to access a residential house lot from the Government.
He informed the communities the Government plans to develop 22 areas across the country for housing. In addition to the distribution of 10,000 allocations annually, the Minister spoke of the public-private partnerships which will enhance the Government’s housing drive. Citing projects which were catered for in the 2020 National Budget, Minister Croal said these funds will kick-start the long-term housing drive. The money, he said, will be used for the clearing of new lands and the construction of access bridges. In the new year, works will commence on infrastructure development in these areas.
Speaking to issues in the water sector, the Minister spoke of long and short-term interventions which will be completed in the coming months. The Minister also said the Guyana Water Incorporated will ensure that there is frequent flushing of water systems to improve the quality of the water. Additionally, plans are in train for the digging of wells, the rehabilitation of existing ones, and the construction of new pump stations in unserved areas.