Lack of infrastructure hampering construction in new housing schemes

Mar 10, 2016 News

-minister inspects East, West Demerara areas

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson, yesterday made a familiarisation visit to several housing areas on the East and West Bank of Demerara to determine their level of infrastructure and

One of the housing schemes behind Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

occupancy.
The Minister visited Providence (Phases One, Two, and Three), the Remigrant scheme, Covent Garden, Herstelling, and Diamond on the East Bank.
On the West Bank, she checked on Schoonord, La Parfaite Harmonie, Lust-en-Rust, Westminster and Recht–Door-Zee.
In an invited comment, Minister Sharpe-Patterson told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that she was pleased with the level of occupancy in the housing schemes on the West Bank of Demarara, especially Lust-en-Rust.
“I really feel good about what I saw, yes there is much more work to be done and as I said the budget will take care of that. It is heartening to see that people have begun to occupy particularly Lust-en-Rust …For the areas that don’t have electricity as yet we will be working on that soon. Housing is about actions and you will see action soon,” Minister Patterson promised.
Meanwhile, at Covent Garden, East Bank, Demerara there is no occupancy even though most of the lands were allotted. The Minister said that this is due to the lack of infrastructure. She assured persons that infrastructural works, for which funding is provided in this year’s budget, will start shortly so that they can start occupying the lands.
“I wanted to know the level of infrastructural work because as I have said so many times, our policy is not just to give a house lot, but to give a piece of land that has all the infrastructure work; road water and light…I need to ensure that we are doing just that,” Minister Sharpe-Patterson explained.
This year, the housing department will upgrade and install drainage, roads, electricity and water infrastructure in 15 housing areas in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six.