Georgetown: Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan recently outlined his intention to fulfil his sector’s mandate as he listed key objectives of the Ministry to the National Assembly. These include promoting decentralisation and democratic engagement, and ending the era of top-down government, by honouring Constitutional provisions relating to local governance and local democracy.
The new Ministry comprises the former Ministries of Local Government and Regional Development, and Housing and Water. The decision to integrate the previously separate ministries was explained by the Minister as being related to people’s quality of life in which the condition of one’s community is a major component.
As part of its quest to realise more cohesive, empowered and sustainable communities, the Ministry will deploy a strategy by empowering and equipping local democratic organs to deliver satisfactory services, promote integrated water resources and sanitation management, and provide quality housing solutions to satisfy the needs of communities and residents across Guyana. Minister Bulkan added that there will be the strengthening of the regional administrations, operationalising of the local government commissions, creating a national solid waste and waste water plans, a housing policy, and a cohesive plan for loss reduction and energy efficiency.
Water supplies
Other plans include a study on the performance of aquifers, use of alternate energy sources, improved water shed management, construction of a waste water treatment plant and the supplying of World Health Organisation’s standard quality water in Georgetown.
Construction of six new water treatment plants are on the cards, as well as a hinterland water strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change and mining on the provision of safe water in Indigenous areas.
Housing developments
With regard to the state sponsored housing developments, citizens are now assured of much more than just houselots or basic housing. “All state sponsored developments are to be provided with educational, recreational and sports facilities, in addition to basic infrastructure and services such as electricity, telephones, roads and pure water supplies.”
For 2015, activities slated by the Ministry include community planning and designs, infrastructure development, land divestment, community development and squatter regularisation. Minister Bulkan said these activities will result in the planning stage for a new cohesive community and the consolidation and expansion of the 1,000 homes project development at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara. Key infrastructure will be installed in 28 communities across the country with 90% expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He further added that approximately 800 households will benefit from the allocation of service land and turn-key homes, with three community plans “targeted for implementation and 200 households benefiting from squatter regularisation. The rest of the year will see the Ministry focusing on the third phase of installing infrastructure and also commencing of the construction of the fifth batch of 50, two – bedroom houses at Perseverance at the cost of $4.9 million each. Other areas along the East Bank of Demerara will see the provision of 200 service lots being made available.
Minister Bulkan said at least 4,000 families will be able to attain their own homes during this five-year period, in the following areas: Region 1, Mabaruma; Region 2, Onderneeeming; Region 3, Stewartville; Edingburg, Anna Catherina, Cornelia Ida and Stewartville; Region 4, Prospect, Perseverance, Great Diamond, Little Diamond and on the East Coast Demerara at Good Hope and Cummings Lodge; Region 6, Williamsburg; Region 8, Mahdia; Region 9, Culvert City; and in Region 10, Linden where new lands will be identified. They will include starter houses, rent to own apartments, two and three-bedroom houses and other shelter solutions for the disabled and the elderly, the Minister said.
Projections
Minister Bulkan also laid out plans for the 2015 to 2020 period. These include strategies to see increased access to service lands and housing, promotion of public partnerships, fostering of community involvement for projects, coordination of programmes and projects through collaboration with Government and non-government organisations, integrated development programmes, squatter regularisation and containment, improved hinterland housing and reviewing and preparing of development plans for new towns.
Local Government
The ubiquitous hand of control and domination will be replaced with the hand of support, Mr Bulkan said in relation to the Department of Local Government, as “the Administration will aim to build the capacity of local government organs to discharge their constitutional roles and functions.” Local Government Elections, he said will be held in November of this year, once the go-ahead is given by the Guyana Elections Commission.
The Department of Regional Administration will eventually divest itself of the task of managing the affairs of the 71 Local Democratic Organs and concentrate on supporting the activities of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. Special attention will be given to develop the hinterland areas, which the Minister described as being in crisis. “We will work to eliminate the extreme poverty that exists in our hinterland regions. We will utilise the abundant natural resources to bring about material prosperity to transform the lives in our hinterland regions,” he stated.
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