With the injection of $3 billion in the housing sector, the new PPP/C administration intends to provide at least 50,000 house lots to Guyanese during the current five-year term in office and those who are already beneficiaries of the pre-2015 housing initiatives will see improved services in the various communities.
This was disclosed by Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill while performing the functions of Minister of Finance in presenting the administration’s emergency budget to the National Assembly last Wednesday.
“Young professionals, individuals with an immediate need and persons with adequate disposable income will be facilitated to commence construction. Private developers are also included as part of the comprehensive housing strategy,” the Minister announced.
He said that the new $3 billion allocation will be utilised for various activities including infrastructural development in existing housing schemes, land preparation for new housing schemes, and land acquisition. To this end, the capacity for delivery of the aforementioned will be enhanced, as well as the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) enforcement arm, in order to address the issue of squatting, while providing a more robust and fair system of land acquisition.
Stating that the “vibrancy and vitality” of the housing sector will be restored, the Minister said that the “comatose state of the housing sector during the last five years has served as a disincentive to young professionals, Guyanese families and all seeking home ownership.”
Under the area of water and sanitation, some $2.8 billion to support the operations of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has been set aside and this could see sustaining and improving access to potable water across coastal, urban, and hinterland communities, continuing the reduction of the non-revenue water programme and increasing the access to treated water in more areas.
The Minister said that the Government is undertaking a number of water supply improvement projects in coastland and hinterland regions. These will be done in areas including Mabaruma, Barabina, Wainina, Shulinab, Shea, Cheong Mouth, and Bartica. Also, the GWI is in the process of enhancing its capacity to drill new wells as well as maintain existing wells by acquiring two new rigs.
The pipe replacements in Georgetown to improve pressure in the system, prioritising Vlissingen Road to Cummings Street will continue for the rest of this year.
And the government will commence a study for the provision of potable water from the Hope Canal, and design of water treatment systems for the hinterland towns of Mabaruma and Mahdia, the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam, and coastal areas of Walton Hall to Charity – Region 2, Bush Lot – Region 5, and Tain to No. 50 Village – Region 6. According to the minister this study will be paramount in helping to shape the water sector programme, going forward.
“We will also work with all stakeholders to ensure proper wastewater management as well as to ensure water rates remain affordable. An integrated water resource and management framework is being developed to ensure the rationalisation of our water resources,” he said.
The government also plans to aggressively pursue an Integrated Sustain-able Waste Management (ISWM) programme and to facilitate this some $644.2 million has been allocated in the budget. The goal is to cater for the health of citizens, animals and the environment. It will undertake improving infrastructure for sanitary landfill sites, encouraging recycling and composting, and spreading awareness to the public on the ISWM best practices and principles.
