Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Region Three touted as fastest developing Region in housing drive
Minister Ali (third from right) is flanked by some of his top officers.
The Housing Sector has done enormously well this year. This is according to Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, during his end of year press conference yesterday.
This development is especially noted in Region Three, according to Minister Ali who said that his notion is well supported by the usage rate of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. There has been a massive increase in the number of people who utilise the service of the bridge which serves as a crucial link to Region Three, which according to Ali, “is one of the fastest growing regions in terms of size because of the housing drive.”
The bridge statistics, he said, shows that the monthly vehicular traffic on the Demerara Harbour Bridge has increased by approximately 16 percent in 2009.
Additionally, the Minister revealed that it has been deduced that on an average 11,000 tons of aggregate materials, including sand and stone, are transported over the bridge on a weekly basis. This he noted stands as testimony to the fact that the housing drive has been enormous due mainly to an increase in occupancy rate this year.
Ali said that the housing drive was influenced by the Ministry’s enforcement and repossession efforts coupled with educational measures that were put in place to encourage citizens to move from rental to a homeowner status.
Further, he noted that Government had sought to implement various policies that have really pushed the sector forward. He cited the raising of the bank lending limit at commercial banks and even mentioned that the falling of the price on the international market also helped to aid the housing and construction boom this year.
The Ministry, Ali said, was able to rise to the challenge with the expansion of the One-Stop-Shop concept where “we were able to move directly to the people in satisfying and serving them.” With this innovative venture, the Minister said that the Ministry was able to exceed its allocation target by more than 100 percent in 2009. The original target, he noted, was 1,500 house lots.
Initially, 5,000 new interviews for house lots was the primary target. However, the actual accomplishment was in excess of 10,000 interviews.
“This is a result of the seamless system we have introduced. We have introduced a full computerised system where you can apply and have your interview all done on the same day once you have all your documentation in place.”
The Ministry also launched an online application initiative this year in hope that by next year it will be expanded. The website which entails information on the housing policy, building standards and planning regulations and requirements, has been in existence for about three weeks and has already had more than 6,000 visitors.
“Persons can visit our website and get a holistic introduction to the housing sector as a whole because it is an educational tool,” Ali asserted.
And through the Central Housing and Planning Authority efforts were made this year to implement a number of additional initiatives which are expected to bear fruit in 2010. One of the major challenges to be addressed closely this year, the Minister said, is to have contractors work in a timely, reliable and efficient manner to complete infrastructural works that are slated to be embarked upon by the Ministry.
Currently, the Ministry has commenced a tendering process which would allow for a number of new developments projects in 2010. And according to Ali the Ministry is hoping to have about 7,000 new lots ready by the end of next year.
“This is a large target but it is one that we hope to achieve with hard work,” Ali said.
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