Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, while presenting the 2010 budget yesterday in the National Assembly, stated that key targets for the housing sector this year include the allocation of 5,500 house lots as well as the processing and distribution of 3,750 land titles. The housing sector would be allocated $2.8 billion. Singh said the government’s “One Stop Shop” campaign will continue, with the aim of increasing the occupancy rate of housing areas.
A sum of $1.1 billion will be spent this year on improving road networks and water distribution in areas such as Anna Catherina, Plantation Schoonord and Hope Estate, which will be of benefit to approximately 700 households. Additionally, community multi-purpose buildings will be constructed at Westminister, Cummings Lodge, and Glasgow to serve as supporting facilities to complement the infrastructural works already completed in those areas.
This year’s budget also makes provisions under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme (SEISP), for construction works in 6 new sites, including Block 8 Tuschen, Section EE Non Pariel, Ordnance/ Fortlands, No76 Village, Corentyne, Five Miles Bartica and Amelia’s Ward, which is to see the creation of 1,504 new house lots. A sum of $1.5 billion has been allocated for this purpose.
In addition, the administration is aiming to complete 80 core houses and distribute 100 subsidies to low income households this year. The entire lifetime of the SEISP programme, which runs until 2014, will cost some US$27.9 million.
The programme is aimed at improving the quality of life of low income families through better access to housing and it will also see the establishment of 3,768 low-income house lots to the benefit of 15,449 persons at the end of its implementation.
The Water sector will be injected with a sum of $2.7 billion, which will facilitate the completion of water treatment plants in several areas including Lima, on the Essequibo Coast, Cotton Tree and Vergenoegen, as well as the Central Ruimveldt and Sophia iron removal plants, which is to benefit some 128,000 persons.
Twelve thousand residents living between the villages of Number 74 Village to Corriverton, Berbice are also expected to benefit from completion works expected to be carried out on the Corriverton water treatment plant, which will be done at a total cost of some $1.6 billion. In addition, service connection upgrades and metering will be undertaken at several areas across the country, including Bartica, Leguan, Patentia and Covent Garden.
Distribution networks at Half Mile and One Mile and transmission mains from Mackenzie to Richmond Hill are catered for rehabilitation in this year’s budget.
The administration also plans to upgrade potable water supply to hinterland communities this year and communities such as Capoey, Mainstay, Surama Pond and Paramakatoi are listed as beneficiaries.
