Training on the electronic Planning and Development Single Window System continued on Monday at the Ramada Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara, with participation from Neighbourhood Democratic councils (NDC) of Regions Three and Ten. The session forms part of the ongoing effort to enhance the efficiency and functionality of the system.
The Single Window System, a digital platform developed under the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), enables CH&PA and partner agencies to streamline the residential and non-residential planning and building permit processes through a unified platform. This transition from a predominantly paper-based system eliminates bureaucratic hurdles, reduces processing times, and significantly improves the ease of doing business in Guyana.
Delivering remarks at the session were Minister of Housing, Hon. Collin Croal; Minister within the Ministry, Hon. Vanessa Benn; CH&PA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Martin Pertab; and CH&PA Chief Development Planner, Ms. Germene Stewart.
Also participating were representatives from the Mayor and City Council, the Guyana Fire Service, and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).
Minister Croal emphasized that the success of the system hinges on the collaboration and active participation of all regulatory bodies, noting that this initiative aligns with the Government’s broader vision to enhance services across all sectors.
“This is part of the changes that you will see happening at every level, so that ultimately you must have efficiency, you must have transparency and you must predictability,” Minister Croal said.
Minister Benn further highlighted that the government remains committed to modernizing public service delivery through technology, noting that digital transformation across all sectors is essential for improved governance. She further stated that the Single Window System represents a crucial step toward achieving greater inter-agency coordination and accountability.
Meanwhile, CEO Dr. Pertab underscored that, with Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy, the implementation of the electronic system is both timely and crucial for advancing sustainable national development. He pointed out that, given the Government’s robust housing drive, growth in oil and gas, manufacturing, and other sectors, the volume of applications in the system will rise significantly, and regulatory bodies must be prepared to manage this. As such, he urged participants to maximize the benefits of the training.
The interactive training allowed participants to engage with the facilitators, ask questions, and receive guidance on various components of the platform. Presentations were delivered on topics such as accessing the portal, processing pre-application consultations (PACs), submitting single-family residential applications, and processing non-residential applications. Last week, representatives from Region Four participated in similar training sessions. The sessions will continue in the coming weeks with participants from the remaining administrative regions.