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$30M Lands and Survey building commissioned in Berbice
The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission in conjunction with the Ministry of Presidency yesterday officially declared open a brand new building that will serve as the new location for the entity in Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Situated just a street away (next door to the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School) from where the previous GLSC Department was located (below the RDC Region Six), the building is fully powered by solar energy and caters for persons with disabilities with the inclusion of a wheelchair ramp.
It also is equipped with air conditioning units on the lower and upper level. It was constructed at a cost of approximately $30M.
Declaring the office open with a simple ribbon-cutting segment and the unveiling of a plaque, was the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.
In his address to employees of the entity, regional officials and other Ministers of government, Harmon considered the occasion one of significance since he believes that it represents their commitment to providing quality service to Guyanese.
Acknowledging the commission as one of the “stellar performers” in the government he credited the board and management for the success.
Harmon added, “Three years ago I spoke at New Amsterdam Town Week and said that New Amsterdam is in for bigger things. I pointed out that Government intended to spend an enormous sum of money to ensure that this town receives a major boost. Today you can see it”.
The new $30M office in Berbice.
This, he said, could only have been executed because the government acted systematically and planned carefully for the development of the country.
“No longer is it necessary for you to leave this town to go to Georgetown for services which are being brought to you,” the Minister pointed out.
He recalled that it was only in June 2018 that he stood at the very location and turned the sod to commence construction of the new building since it was budgeted for in 2018.
It is his belief that once there is good supervision coupled with contractors who are committed to executing the work for which they are paid, “we can have government buildings such as this provided all across this country at a good cheap price.
“Cheap not in the sense low quality but in terms of what it takes to get the value for your dollar.”
It was in that light that he compared the cost to build the new GNLC building as against the $69M NIS building in Corriverton, he said, “In Region Six, people make all sorts of statements.
“I want to compare what you see here that has cost you $30M to the NIS building at Corriverton that cost $65M and look at what it is. Already (the NIS building) is in need of repairs, so when people compare and speak about this government…”
The minister disclosed that the land policy that is being executed by the GLSC is undergoing review and reform. The physical facilities, he said, are a part of the restructuring taking place in land management and the policy in relation to land.
“Everywhere that you go, as the population expands, you have a conflict to resolve for land because to the extent to which the population and domestic use expands it is to that extent that you have commercial, industrial and agricultural use being challenged and so it is an important issue that GLSC is tackling,” the Minister of State noted.
Mayor of the Township, Winifred Haywood, congratulated the government for taking the initiative to have the GNLS department in their very own building. This she said will allow the staff to work effectively and inefficiently when providing services to the people of Berbice.
Some of the services offered under the GLSC includes land administration services, surveying services among others, Just recently the commission successfully hosted the 17th session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC17).
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