Georgetown: The Central Housing and Planning Authority is working assiduously to realise the target for 2014, for completing the installation of electrical distribution networks for several Government of Guyana Housing Developments across the country.
Areas include housing developments along the East Bank of Demerara, Regions 3, 5, 6, 7 and 10, accounting for 37 areas. The Authority will shortly be inviting bids, by way of public tender, for works related to the installation of electricity distribution networks for 14 areas, including Recht-Door-Zee Phase 2, Amelia’s Ward Phase 3, Plot B Herstelling and Providence Phase 2. The 14 areas will be completed during this year, while it is expected that work for the other 23 areas, which are currently being designed, will commence before the end of the year. Installation of electricity supply was completed for allottees of the turn key houses at Providence, in September of last year.
Work is currently ongoing in several other areas, in Regions 3 and 6, with completion slated for the fourth quarter of this year.
Growth in sector
The Housing sector has recorded significant progress in 2013 and plans are afoot to top these achievements in 2014.
According to Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali the application for house lots process is now in ‘real time’ in some areas. However, for Region Four the Ministry is still processing applications from 2010 and 2011. Ali explained that the main reason for this is because many of the persons in that region do not want to leave and insist on lands there.
Meanwhile, the Minister noted that the East Bank has been the penultimate tier of development for the housing sector in 2013; Last year, over 400 persons were employed in varying skills in the new housing areas.
Additionally approximately 8,500 house lots were distributed in 2013 while 7,000 persons gained titles. According to the Housing Minister, in 2014 his Ministry will be looking to allocate 6,000 lots.
He noted however, the demand for the turn key homes, clerical office homes and the low high income homes have been increasing.
Additionally, he noted that plans are afoot to expand Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara to have industrial and commercial industries which will reduce the pressure on the city’s capacity of job markets.
Several new housing schemes will also be upgraded in 2014 including Zeeburg and Zeelugt where 1,500 lots will be distributed collectively.
Completion of the new highway linking Parfait Harmonie closer to the Demerara Harbour Bridge is also expected in 2014.
Another important highway is the one linking the East Coast to the East Bank with designs to be completed and works to commence in early 2014.
The Ministry of Housing and the CHPA continues to approach the development of housing across the country, in a holistic way.
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