Single Window System to come online soon

– as Govt engages officials for smooth implementation

Following the recent approval of the Single Window System Bill in the National Assembly, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is proceeding with the implementation of this system as the online platform will soon be launched.
The Mayor and City Council of Georgetown, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairpersons, and Vice Chairpersons from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) were involved in discussions regarding the new Planning and Development Single Window System on Friday.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal led the engagements at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
This innovative platform is set to revolutionise the process of planning and obtaining permits with a single entry point for CH&PA and other relevant partner agencies. It aims to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, reduce processing times, and is built upon the principles of transparency, predictability, efficiency, electronic accessibility, scalability, and interoperability.
This will enhance the ease of doing business in Guyana, enabling both local and international investors to seamlessly access the system and submit applications online from any location in the world. Additionally, applicants will have the capability to track the progress of their applications.
The system also incorporates pre-consults, enabling applicants to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their submissions before making a ‘full application’.
The single-window process is a strategy implemented by the Government to integrate agencies’ approach to services, efficiency, and to significantly reduce the processing time for planning and building permission.
The legislative framework now paves the way for, among other things, standardised application forms and checklists, as well as minimising the time for completing a transaction. Further, the electrical portal will enable investors to submit planning and building permits and check the status from anywhere around the globe, as this new mechanism forms part of the Government’s attempt to increase the ease of doing business and foster a business-friendly environment.
In December 2022, a $202 million contract was signed with Global Services – a Guyanese-led consortium with global experience – to make the issuance of planning and building permits hassle-free. The company was tasked with providing a server and network infrastructure; security solutions; and hardware and software maintenance and repairs.
The single-window system will feature five key elements including one-window access to allow the CH&PA to be the point of entry for planning and building applications; as well as a dashboard to show the status of individual applications and generate progress reports, which can also be accessed by applicants. Another feature of the system is a time-bound element by which the relevant agencies will have to respond to applications otherwise they would automatically be considered approved.