Dear Editor,
It is a challenge for any new government in a disorganised society to reshape, fashion and implement programmes and policies to guide agencies and ministries. Volumes have been written about the last two decades under PPP rule. In order for Guyana to move forward, we must rid ourselves of these institutional dysfunctions.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) due to the misguided efforts of some in the political directorate became the Ministry of House Lots. As has been said before, this programme is an abysmal failure. Land development and allocation is only one part of the function of central authority. If one were to read the Housing Act, planning and settlement development is the key component of this agency.
No energy needs to be wasted outlining the deficiencies of past policies; a new course is being charted for CH&PA. The diminishing of the planning function has led to the destruction of villages and towns across Guyana and the free for all ‘development’ that has characterised the past two decades. This affects every facet of society and we see it in the chaos of traffic jams, poorly placed housing schemes in areas of no economic opportunity, disjointed business zones, encroachment into communities, etcetera.
Georgetown once called the Garden City has deteriorated so far from the dream of gaining World Heritage status that at this stage it can best be described as wild fantasy. People interested in World Heritage status don’t destroy historic buildings or allow historic sanctuaries to crumble before their eyes.
Negligence, corruption and lawlessness at agencies like the City Engineer’s Department has placed the new CH&PA Board in the peculiar position of villain. Which brings me back to the challenges of reshaping a disorganised society. The Board of CH&PA is simply working and following the laws and policies that guide planning.
There are established policies on the books regarding planning permission for example. Yet businesses are regularly constructing without following the laws and guidelines. These business owners would not attempt to violate similar laws in other countries. It’s inconceivable that a Guyanese would purchase a property in downtown Bridgetown and begin construction of a multistory building without the requisite permits. These laws and guidelines are followed in functional societies without question.
There are persons in Guyana who are not desirous of change. They’ve become comfortably wealthy by creating and encouraging chaos. While we have a new government, some members of this new political directorate are themselves adrift in this sea of lawlessness. This has to change.
CH&PA was a cash cow for some persons in the past, and no doubt others would like to see this continue into the future. I am not a member of any of our political parties, but I did campaign for the APNU+AFC government. Having said that, a functioning CH&PA is my number one, two and three priority. I am not interested in political expediency or cheap vote-getting tricks and acts of deception on the population.
No government can service all the needs of all the people all the time. The public must know the truth and be fed a steady diet of facts and information. As we draw the curtains on 2016, Guyanese must decide if they want change or superficial change.
The lament about a slowdown in the construction industry and a decrease in new housing is being driven by those who crunch numbers and those who count dollars. Many of these persons unfortunately are not guided by information or rational analysis. They are trapped in budget, election and project cycles. Monies budgeted must be spent to qualify for more money in
the next budget. Progress and development can only occur in a rules-based society with clear programmes and policies. Those trapped in budget, election and project cycles have also trapped large segments of their population in cycles of poverty and violence. The former feeds the latter and the dysfunctions remain, much to the surprise of the crunchers of numbers.
Another world is possible and we can do better than listen to the cries of those who long for an era where ‘money circulated’
Yours faithfully,
Mark Jacobs
CH&PA Board Member
