Affordable housing in sanitary and safe communities

Dec 17, 2017 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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(Excerpts from Budget 2018 presentation by Hon Valerie Patterson-Yearwood MP)
In May 2015, in recognition of this salient fact, the APNU+AFC Administration embarked on a journey toward “The Good Life,” inclusive of providing “accessible and affordable housing in sanitary and safe communities, with the necessities for wholesome and dignified living for citizens in need.”
A Journey begins with a single step. Our journey has begun. We are not where we were when we started. We have moved forward. We have made strides, in the face of many challenges.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), within the Ministry of Communities is tasked with executing government’s housing program.
STRENGTHENING OF THE CHPA’S PLANNING FUNCTION
It is our opinion that even though Planning is the most important function in any development, the state of planning in Guyana is not at the desired level that would ensure the quality of life in neighborhoods and communities required of a modern society.
A number of challenges have contributed to this scenario, such as:
1. Lack of awareness and understanding of planning,
2. Lack of capacity at the local level to meaningfully address planning issues,
3. Overlapping functions of the regulatory institutions and weak collaboration among these institutions.
The effects of these challenges are manifest in breaches of planning regulations and building by-laws, encumbrance and nuisances in neighbourhoods, squatting, desecration of the environment, etc. Therefore, planning is pivotal in pursuing orderly and sustained growth and development.
With this in mind, the CH&PA recognizing its critical role in this process hosted a National Planning Forum in March 2017 which resulted in improved collaboration between the CH&PA and the Local Democratic Organs (LDOs). This was important, so that these entities will be in a better position to address the violations in their districts, through;
1. Education and awareness on the planning issues to their constituencies
2. Resolution of land use conflicts
3. Appropriate appraisal and efficient processing of building permits.
NATIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY
The development of the National Housing Strategy will be implemented along three general phases and it is expected to take approximately 14 months.
PREPARATION AND EXECUTION OF DESIGNS AND SURVEYS
Community designs were completed for 9 areas for which subdivision surveys were executed. These areas are:
New communities:
– Providence, East bank Demerara (EBD);
– Peter’s Hall, EBD
– Perseverance, EBD
– Amelia’s Ward, Linden
– Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown
A total of 765 planning applications were processed during the reporting period
HANDING OVER OF SCHEMES
The Agency commenced the process of handing over sixty-nine (69) housing areas within the following Local Democratic Organs (LDOs): Georgetown, Linden, Bartica, Union-Naarstigheid, Blairmont-Gelderland, Woodley Park-Bath and Tuschen-Uitvlugt. MOUs with the 3 municipalities were completed. This exercise is necessary for the effective management of these neighborhoods, by their respective LDOs.
Effective January 2017, the minimum age requirement for an applicant was lowered from 21 yrs to 18 yrs. The agency interviewed seventy-six (76) applicants within the 18 to 21 age group which showed that our young people are ambitious and are interested in acquiring their own homes.
ALLOCATIONS
The Agency’s revised allocation target was 1,000. The agency allocated 1,161 exceeding its target by 16.1%, with the greatest percentage of beneficiaries being those in the low income bracket in all regions with the exception of the Cuyuni – Mazaruni and the Potaro- Siparuni Regions.
CONVEYANCE
The CH&PA continued to work with the relevant agencies to complete the process of home-ownership. To this end; transports and Certificates of Title were processed for 1,962 applicants while the actual amount distributed for the same period was 3,227 representing, 61.35% above the 2,000 target.
These applicants were delighted to finally receive proof of ownership of their property, many of them having had to endure lengthy waiting periods dating back to the previous administration.
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT – SETTLEMENT REGULARISATION
While some persons squat out of desperation, others do it as a means of economic gain. This latter group will go and occupy a parcel of land; erect a structure and then rent it, in some instances, for as much as $30,000 per month. Obviously, these “landlords” must have other living options that they occupy. Another vexing dimension to this situation is that some of the squatters are in receipt of house lots.
We are cognizance of the fact that squatting was being allowed by the former government for reasons better left unsaid. But as a caring and responsible government, we have to and will fix it.
To combat this, we have decided on a menu of measures which were recommended by the community leaders themselves resulting in a Joint Anti-Squatting Taskforce being formed with other major stakeholders.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the development of approximately 1,148 lots at Plantations. Cummings Lodge and Industry for the possible relocation of squatters from Constituencies 5 and 6 Reserves, as well as from other zero tolerance areas in Georgetown and its environs. This intervention requires an estimated investment of approx.G$2.65 billion for infrastructure development.
Notwithstanding that, for the reporting period, 405 lots were formally allocated to squatters after payments were made (approximately 2,025 beneficiaries); 190 persons paid at least 50% of the cost of their lots and signed to commence processing for their titles, while 290 titles were already issued to persons in areas under regularization.
Plantation Mt. Sinai (Agony’s Avenue)
To date, we interviewed 690 householders; issued 661 letters and completed verification exercise for 246 households.
Middle Road
La Penitence
A total of 104 householders interviewed. This project will be continued in 2018.
Timehri North
As part of the regularization process, a field verification exercise was conducted, 380 buildings were numbered and 316 persons were interviewed.
Crane/Best, West
Coast Demerara
We concluded a field exercise and found that 83 lots were occupied, 77 lots were verified for allocation and the occupiers issued with letters. Allottees have commenced making payments for their house lots in preparation for the processing of their Titles.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know that I can adequately convey to this House the expression of joy on the faces of those persons when they realized that they were one step closer to becoming home-owners. But the expressions are priceless.
Rural Hinterland Housing Programme
The sustainable housing for the Hinterland Programme, funded through a Loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aimed to complete beneficiary identification in participating communities, construct 71 full houses and replace 47 roofs in regions the Barima Waini and the Upper Takatu Upper Essequibo Regions
A total of 317 households (approx.1902 beneficiaries) have been identified for full house subsidies (93 in the Barima Waini and 224 in the Upper Takatu Upper Essequibo), and 86 households (516 beneficiaries) for Roof replacements (33 in Barima Waini and 53 in the Upper Takatu Upper Essequibo Regions) across 12 communities in both regions. A total of 17 full houses were constructed and 27 roofs replacement subsidies were disbursed in the Barima Waini and Upper Takatu Upper Essequibo.
Currently construction is in progress for 64 more houses in these two regions. These are to be completed by Dec 29th 2017.
Housing for the
Hinterland Programme – Cuyuni Mazaruni Region
Mr. Speaker based on the lessons learned from the IDB funded rural hinterland housing programme in regions the Barima Waini and the Upper Takatu Upper Essequibo, an intervention was designed for rural hinterland housing in the Cuyuni Mazaruni Region. As such, in September, the CH&PA Board approved the disbursement of 85 roof replacement subsidies in four Upper Mazaruni communities for 2017. Namely: Kako, Kamarang,Warawatta, Quebanang and Waramadong.

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