Housing drive to be boosted in Linden

May 20, 2009 News

– as GWI upgrades service
Remigrants could become eligible for house lots once they register their status with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a process that is in accordance with the Housing Ministry’s policies.
Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali, made this disclosure recently during a visit to Region Ten where he explained the policies governing this category of house lot seekers during discussions with Regional Chairman, Mortimer Mingo, about low cost housing.

Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo (left) and Minister Irfaan Ali in discussion

The Minister was at the time in the company of officials of his Ministry and of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) including Acting Chief Executive, Yuri Chandisingh and Public Relations Officer, Rawle Aaron, and a team of engineers.
The visit was to hold consultations as it relates to Housing and Water in the region.
Minister Ali said that the remigrants-housing programme could have reciprocal economical benefits for the communities to which they are returning. His Ministry is working towards putting in place a re-migrant model, he added.
Mingo, during the discussions, highlighted his concerns about the need for adequate allocations for markets and other convenience for communities being developed in Linden. The Minister said that all communities are being developed with infrastructural layouts that could accommodate markets, commercial shopping centres, religious buildings and recreational facilities.
He noted that he plans to ensure that resources are brought into Linden in order to aid the housing development drive.
The two, the Minister and the Regional Chairman, also addressed matters relating to the level of water service provided by GWI. According to Mingo, while the water system in Linden has recently improved he is concerned about the way information is disseminated about disruptions.
But according to the Minister, such should never be the case as every effort should be made to sensitise residents of disruptions via the media once it would last for more than 24 hours. Accordingly, he urged that the GWI officials work closely with the Regional Administration and the residents.
And there are plans to improve the water distribution system in Linden according to information from the water company. In this regard capital investment proposed for this year’s includes distribution rehabilitation at South Amelia’s Ward, Blue Berry Hill and Wismar Housing Scheme projects, which should be completed at a cost of some $39 M.
There are also plans for the procurement of leak repair fittings and supervision valued at some $11M.
Projects yet to be completed in the Region include distribution network in Silvertown which is 95 per cent completed, a transmission main for Amelia’s Ward which is yet to be started and another which is 50 per cent completed. The latter will continue to Mackenzie.
Works to facilitate a transmission and service connection upgrade at Kara Kara are about 40 per cent completed and a transmission line upgrade is yet to be started for the Mackenzie/Watooka area.