Gov’t aiming to build 4000 houses in cohesive communities -Scott

The Ministry of Com-munities is working towards constructing ap-proximately 4,000 houses in cohesive communities over the next five years which would benefit over 16,000 persons, a release from the Ministry of Communities said last evening.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott is working with his staff to “Renew the Dream” that will enable Guyanese to access improved community life, the release said. The Ministry is in the process of refining the strategy.

“The houses will be built as part of cohesive communities, where there will be an emphasis on the provision of social infrastructure and other amenities, in addition to the regular services such as electricity, roads and water distribution networks”, the release said.

It said that the idea of cohesive communities is to ensure that the shelter and other needs of households are met such as daycare facilities and functioning playgrounds.

In an interview with Stabroek News earlier in the week, Scott said that the government plans to move housing development in the country from the sale of house lots to the sale of turn-key homes in communities that are outfitted with basic services.

“What we are doing is developing the concept that people must have a house… we intend to have houses together with community centres, school, churches, pharmacies and in some cases even fire stations so that people would not have the need to have to go down to a different area to look for a job or to shop or go to school,” Scott said.

Last evening’s statement said that in addition to this drive to house families, house lot distribution will continue for persons who wish to build their houses.

It added that Scott will be available to meet with the Public (Public Days), every Wednesday, commencing Wednesday June, 10, 2015, between 09:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.