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Investors should now expect a speedy response from the Department of Town and Country Planning. This follows the implementation of the recommendations of the review of the Department undertaken by Adjunct Professor John Brannock. The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment, Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment, Mr Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, briefed Cabinet on the status and progress of the review of the Department as at 30th June 2008. Mr Vayeshnoi said that a Review Steering Committee to facilitate the implementation of the Brannock Recommendations was set up in January this year. He said that as at the end of March 2008, 14 of the Brannok recommendations have been implemented. He stated that the new policy approach adopted by the Department will expedite the processing and approval process of capital projects that have been significantly delayed, as raised by aggrieved investors. “The tracking of applications and acknowledgement notice of applications will be made within three days of receipt of applications. “The Director of Town and Country Planning will grant approvals in principle subject to other conditions being met from under any other laws, e.g. native lease de-reservation under the Native Lands Act, EIA under the Environment laws or other conditions under Local Government by-laws. “Therefore, the Director will not be holding approval for further processing by other agencies when all the requirements under the Act are complied with.” Mr Vayeshnoi said that the Ministry has already managed to quickly resolve some long pending capital projects after adopting this new approach. He said that work is also underway in improving the communications aspect of the Department, and ensuring that the Department is appropriately staffed. He said that with the implementation of the recommendations achieved so far, improvements have been noted that has assisted the Department and its performance significantly. He added that the functioning of the Department will be further improved following the adoption of the six remaining recommendations. -Ends- No:1208 |
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