A nation housed in sustainable and cohesive communities

Jul 26, 2015 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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(Excerpts from an address to Parliament by Hon Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan M.P.)

(Continued from last week)
Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA):  This agency has presided over the changing face of our capital and many other communities across our country. It is not for me to pronounce whether this changing face, which I have alluded to, is for the better or for the worse. That would be uncalled for. In fact, that would be impertinent.

I will say, however, that it needs to stop and take stock. It needs new energy as well as an infusion of expertise and it will receive this from the Central Government. In this regard, its strategic direction, vision and mission will be brought into line with those of this administration. Its vision will now be “A nation housed in sustainable and cohesive communities.”
Its mission will be, as I have alluded earlier, “To improve the quality of life of Guyanese by establishing new, cohesive communities and consolidating existing settlements, through the promotion of integrated planning, land divestment and affordable housing.”
For the fiscal year 2015, its activities will include:
• Community planning and design
• Community infrastructure development
• Land Divestment
• Community Development and
• Squatter Regularisation
These activities will see the commencement of the planning phase for the establishment of a new cohesive community and the consolidation and expansion of the 1,000 homes project at Perseverance on the East Bank of Demerara. The installation of infrastructure will continue in 28 existing housing areas, with completion targeted for about 90% of the areas, by year end. Approximately 800 households will benefit from the allocation of service land and turnkey homes, with three community plans targeted for implementation and 200 households benefiting from squatter regularisation.
For the remainder of 2015, the Ministry will focus on implementing the third phase of installing infrastructure and the commencement of construction of the fifth batch of 50 two-bedroom houses also at Perseverance. These two-bedroom houses i.e. (house and land), are being sold for $4.9 million.
Additionally, 200 serviced lots will be allocated at Diamond/Grove, Farm, Covent Garden, Herstelling and Providence, all on the East Bank of Demerara, and Kilcoy, Chesney and Bloomfield in Region 6, by the end of this year.
Strategic objectives 2015 – 2020:
(i) Increased access to serviced land and housing.
Outputs being: New cohesive communities developed; existing housing schemes transformed to cohesive communities; Serviced lots allocated; Titles transferred.
(ii) Promotion of public/private partnerships to facilitate the provision of housing, social infrastructure and community services.
Designs of neighbourhood centres (e.g. shopping centre or market) and community facilities (e.g. multipurpose complex, bus terminal) completed; Partnership agreements and Memoranda of Understanding signed, and other; Construction of neighbourhood centres and community facilities completed by private sector, other civil society organisations and donor agencies, and other; Neighbourhood centres and community facilities utilised; Housing solutions constructed by private developers.
(iii) Fostering of community involvement for the identification and implementation of community projects.
Outputs being: Formation of communities; Regular community meetings held; Community projects identified and implemented; Capacity building training implemented; A mechanism established for linking communities with local government organs and our local democratic organs. This is an issue that the Ministry will play an active role, will engage, facilitate and be a catalyst.
(iv) Coordination of programmes/projects through collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Outputs being; Inter-agency coordinating committee expanded; Mechanism established to improve information sharing among stakeholders.
(v)  Integrated development planning.
Outputs being: Community development plans prepared; Housing profile study completed; Housing policy and strategic plan completed.
(vi) Squatter regularisation and containment.
Outputs being: Comprehensive squatter regularisation and relocation plan developed; Squatter households regularised.
(vii)  Improve quality of housing in hinterland communities.
Outputs being: Subsidies disbursed; Housing improved in Hinterland communities
(viii)  Review and prepare urban development plans for new towns.
The House and this nation have already heard His Excellency’s announcement that before the commemoration and celebration of our 50th Independence Anniversary, next May, our country will have four new towns, these being Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia and Lethem.
In this regard, the Lethem plan is being reviewed as well as the Bartica plan and plans will be prepared for Mahdia and Mabaruma. In addition to the legislation, which will be needed, priority will be given to remedying much of the infrastructure deficiencies that are present in all four of the mentioned communities.
Secondly, these new towns will provide governmental services that are currently unavailable; services that will be provided as part of the process of decentralisation and devolution that I alluded to earlier, among these being the availability of birth certificates, passports, as well as land titling, to name a few.
The programme over the next five years, as far as this agency is concerned, the Ministry will focus on providing serviced lots in addition to constructing houses and establishing new cohesive communities, where there will be emphasis on providing social infrastructure and other amenities that are consistent with improved quality of life for ordinary Guyanese.

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