Surveyors were Tuesday expected in Bartica to complete block surveys as part of efforts to clear 100 acres of land to deliver 600 house lots to residents.

Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali was quoted by the state-run Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying that the house lots at Five Miles should be developed by September.

“This area is far flatter and is more conducive for the housing development,” said Ali.

Officials intend to tender infrastructure works in six weeks. Five Miles is known for its Pine Cultivation.
           
Chief Development Planner at the Central Housing and Planning Authority Rawle Edinboro explained that the design of the housing scheme would not cater only for residential lots but, the development of a complete community with all necessary facilities.
Authorities had initially earmarked Seven Miles for the housing project but that area was abandoned due to the contours of the land.

With the gold boom continuing for several months now, due to spiking world prices, Bartica- considered the gateway township to the interior- has seen a significant boom in a variety of businesses.
 
On the East Bank of Demerara alone in the vicinity of Diamond, a massive housing programme is at present being undertaken with a target of 15,000 houselots to be developed for distribution.

In 2010, $2.8 billion was allocated to the housing sector to further Government’s housing development.

With 14 ‘One Stop Shops’ in 2010, that touched most of the Administrative regions,  in excess of 10,000 lots were distributed in areas such as Tuschen, Mahdia, Fort Ordnance, Onderneeming, Hope Estate, Non Pariel, Amelia’s Ward, Wismar and Block 22 in Linden, Region 10.