Copyright stabroeknews
Dear Editor, I wish to lend my full support to the concerns raised by Mr. J. Ramlochan in his letter published in Stabroek News on November 6, 2025, highlighting the inefficiencies surrounding the current housing and construction application process. When the Planning and Development Single Window System Act was debated in the National Assembly in 2022, we were assured that it would “make life and business easier for Guyanese” (Government of Guyana, 2022). Regrettably, this has not been the case. The bureaucracy, excessive paperwork, and prolonged delays now associated with what should be a straightforward application process have proven to be both frustrating and counterproductive. I speak from intimate, firsthand experience. In assisting a relative residing overseas who owns property in Guyana and wishes to rebuild, I have witnessed the immense challenges faced by ordinary citizens. The application was submitted in the second quarter of 2024, yet here we are, in the last quarter of 2025, and approval remains pending. Imagine that, to rebuild one’s own home, applicants must produce documents such as water level reports, updated survey plans, and several other technical requirements that only serve to delay progress rather than facilitate it. What is even more disheartening is the treatment of Guyanese living abroad. My relative was forced to incur additional costs to travel to Guyana simply to apply for a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). When questioned why this could not be done online, the response was that the applicant must be physically present. This, Editor, is incomprehensible, especially in light of the government’s repeated boasts about advancing digital transformation. If citizens abroad can renew their passports online through consulates and embassies, then surely, the same convenience should apply to the processing of TIN applications. Earlier this year, I reached out to Minister Collin Croal to understand the cause of the delay. To his credit, he did follow up and provide feedback, which was appreciated. However, despite his intervention, no tangible progress has been made. Each follow-up results in being told that “some other action” is required. It is a never-ending cycle of red tape and administrative inertia. Moreover, since the implementation of the Single Window Unit System in 2023, the nation is yet to be presented with a comprehensive performance report outlining its successes, challenges, and measurable outcomes (Department of Public Information, 2023). That is how progress should be assessed, through transparency, accountability, and evidence-based reporting. Without such information, it becomes difficult for citizens to evaluate whether the system is truly achieving its intended goals of efficiency and ease of doing business. As I move around Georgetown, I observe massive construction projects underway and cannot help but wonder whether those applicants had to endure the same drawn-out process faced by ordinary Guyanese. The disparity in treatment is glaring and deeply troubling. Therefore, I join the call for the Government and the Ministry of Housing and Water to urgently review this system. The existing requirements and procedures must be streamlined, particularly in cases where there is already an existing structure on the property. The intent of the 2022 reforms, to make life and business easier, must not remain a mere talking point. It must be reflected in the lived experiences of our citizens, both at home and abroad. Guyana cannot speak of modernization and efficiency while ordinary people are trapped in outdated systems that waste time, money, and energy. It is time for decisive action to simplify the process and genuinely make life easier for our people. Annette Ferguson
