CH&PA opens new Regional Housing Office in Linden

May 05, 2017 News

Representatives at the opening of the Regional Housing Office in Linden.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority opened a spanking new building on Tuesday in Crabwood Street, Linden. The building was constructed at a cost of $6.4M.
Minister of Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson said, Linden and Region Ten were looking forward to a new building for a long time, ever since she was a councilor under the leadership of Mr. Mortimer Mingo. It took her as Minister to achieve that feat, she said.
Also present were staff of the CH&PA Georgetown, CEO CH&PA Lelon Saul, Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland and other representatives of the various entities in Linden.
The Minister said that during her consultations in Region Ten, particularly Linden, she was stymied to some extent because after taking office in January 2016 the space was so cramped she couldn’t meet all the people.
She thanked the staff for enduring the crib and told them that her expectations of them are high.
“I am thankful to the RDC for providing that office space, but when I visited the former office I realized that the crib was too small. All the staff was in there; senior officers from town come to visit and had to huddle there and had to take the public one at a time, and when I am here somebody got to stand up.
“We had outgrown that space so we had to move on. It is bigger and better. I was amazed to see the girls fetching water to flush the toilet. Rain fell and they had to have a bucket to catch water. That is not the image of CH&PA.”
The Minister said those reasons caused her to change the location of the office. Linden will soon be having a driver and a vehicle allocated before the end of the month so that the staff in Linden will be able to serve the people more effectively and efficiently.
“I want to beg of the people of Linden to support them, they will have some challenges and not every problem you have they will be able to respond to right away. However, I promise you with the enhanced customer service you are going to get your response. Time will be much shorter.”
She told the small gathering that she will upgrade all the regional offices of CH&PA but, “Charity begins at home so Linden first.”
According to Minister Patterson, the land clearing will begin in another week or two in Amelia’s Ward.
“We are building duplexes, town houses and soon to come condominiums. Linden will have 40 duplexes built in Amelia’s Ward. They will be starting very shortly and twenty will be built in Wisroc. Each of these buildings will cost $11.8M.
“So very shortly we are going to start the land clearing exercise in Amelia’s Ward. I have a plan; I have decided and I am very strong on this – whatever work we are doing in the regions the contractors in the region will benefit and the people of the region must benefit from employment.
“We are building duplexes and town houses in 10 areas in six regions; so I’m sending the alarm to the contractors –we got your back and once you put yourself in order work will be given to you.”
The Minister noted that the Coalition Government has started a journey towards achieving a good life for all Guyanese. The President is still committed to making his dream a reality. Patterson said the government is up to the task and will face every challenge with grit and determination.
She said that applicants can now apply and be interviewed on the same day. They are working to have the applicants sign their agreement of sale same day and the road in Phase Two in Amelia’s Ward will soon be built.
Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian, said he was a bit nostalgic as he looked at the beautiful edifice that is now the office of the Housing Department in Linden.
Morian claimed that as a councilor a number of years ago they were planning to have a decent building to house Housing and all matters relating to people getting housing lots.
The Regional Chairman said that there is a culture of gaff in Region Ten.
“We have too many gaffers in Region Ten. Kudos to the Minister who has been working.”
The office was built by Yearwood General Works and Consultancy (Civil Works) and the Electrical works was done by Elliot Contracting Services.

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