Newly appointed Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn is wasting no time laying out an ambitious plan to help shape Guyana’s housing sector into one that is greener, more efficient and built to last.
Supporting Minister of Housing Collin Croal, Benn said her mission is to broaden the ministry’s work beyond the rapid expansion of housing areas to include environmental sustainability, high-quality construction and smoother services for citizens.
“The Ministry of Housing has always talked about how do we have a space to improve the lives of our people.
“My intent is, whilst we look at the work that they have been doing so well over the years, how do we broaden that scope?” Benn said.
One of her key priorities, she noted, is greening housing spaces and linking the sector more closely with forestry to promote the use of lesser-known wood species in construction.
Benn explained that beyond simply building houses, the aim is to create opportunities for employment in forestry and joinery, while introducing Guyanese to the beauty of exotic woods beyond traditional choices like kabukalli and greenheart.
“Guyanese can have, we don’t just think about kabukalli and greenheart but there are many other species that we can use that are beautiful, that kind of showcase the exotic woods that we have. And we can use those and provide more employment for people within the forestry, joinery sector and so on,” she said.
But sustainability is only part of Benn’s agenda. She is equally determined to ensure better construction standards and address concerns about defects in homes that have been handed over to citizens.
“I am also looking at joining the minister’s team to help to ensure the defects in some of the homes that may have been complained about are addressed.
“How do we build, and build better, that’s my interest. One of the things I want to address is to ensure there aren’t defects,” Benn said.
Benn said she and Croal are “quite intent” on helping to address issues whether it’s in regard to policy, to helping persons to be able to improve things at all different levels of the ministry.
“It’s more than just the staff having to have that eye and to monitor and evaluate the progress at which these buildings are being constructed, but helping them with that process as well. Because some things cannot be addressed at the level of a manager or something,” Benn said.
Another major thrust of her vision is efficiency in service delivery. She highlighted the need to digitise systems to reduce delays and frustration for citizens applying for land.
“From the time they submit an application to when it is approved, that must move along a pathway that is a lot more efficient and persons don’t have frustration,” she added.
For Benn, success will depend on teamwork and supporting staff as much as serving the public.
“Being here is a two-way street.
“Not just us looking to the staff and ensuring that they deliver, but whatever challenges the staff of the Ministry of Housing has, how can we assist in helping them to overcome them. So it’s a big team effort,” she said.
Though only days into her tenure, Benn said she is already working closely with heads of departments to enhance internal processes and speed up land allocation.
“Quality work takes time,” she acknowledged, “but there is a whole effort, from the time I joined this ministry, to see how we can deliver more efficiently.”
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