… 2000 houses were delivered in 2 days
The Ministry of Housing and Water on Saturday completed another successful housing campaign, meeting their target of some 2000 housing lot allocations and most importantly, clearing the applications from the 1990s.
Housing Ministry Minister Susan Rodrigues attended the final day of the “Dream Realized” housing initiative at Guyana’s National Stadium in Providence on Saturday. He told Guyana Times that the Ministry was able to assist those applicants who “fell through the cracks” and were waiting for years. Some would have been successful but could not have paid the necessary amount of money to officially own a lot in the past, but now these issues have been resolved.
“Included in this distribution activity [was] mop up all the candidates who have been in the system from the 90s, who have fallen through the cracks for whatever reason. Most of them were allocated but either could not afford to pay or did not receive the area they were given and we were able to clear that period from the 1990s. So, we can say successfully that we are moving forward, ”the Minister told this announcement. Rodrigues added that individuals were very responsive when contacted. The next initiative will be rolled out in Region Three (Essequibo-West Demerara Islands) in the new week, followed by Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) before Christmas.
“We had another successful day and everyone is here. People were very responsive and it was very encouraging to know that even those who have been in the system for a very long time, we could have contacted them, and they responded. They came out and we’re close to our target for 2000 over the two days, ”he said.
On Friday, Rodrigues shared that apart from this recent housing campaign, the Ministry has been able to allocate 3500 house lots since the People / Civic Progressive Party came to power four months ago. This achievement, he highlighted, is half of the sum announced during the Ministry’s last term of office.
Over $ 1 billion will be injected into the District Three housing sector in 2021 through a project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Money was committed for La Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, Minister of the West, Recht-Door-Zee, Lust-en-Rust and Schoonord.
The IDB project, slated to begin in January 2021, will target the elevation of infrastructure in existing housing areas to make it more appealing to potential homeowners and create more sustainable communities.
Minister Rodrigues had revealed earlier this month that the work would involve building three playgrounds and 50 core houses and that at least 500 subsidies would be given to prospective eligible homeowners. He also noted the inclusion of LEDs with the aim of improving community safety features, road construction, and upgrades, as well as water distribution networks.
Housing Minister Collin Croal had assured him after taking office in August that they would pursue an aggressive housing campaign as outlined in the manifesto. This began with the replacement of the Head of the Central Housing and Planning Authority. The Government was looking for someone who has vision and who can lead a successful campaign, and later filled this position with the appointment of Sherwyn Greaves.
Under the Ministry, the Central Housing and Planning Authority has a mandate to address the housing needs of all Guyanese. The agency, under the clarity of the Ministry of Housing and Water, has the main objectives of diverting Government land to eligible Guyanese for residential use, developing housing schemes, and regulating and upgrading squatter settlements, orderly and progressive development of land, cities, towns, areas urban and rural, and provide security of tenure (Transportation and Title to Land Certificates). (G12)
