…providing 44,900 lots, benefiting 184,000 persons
OVER the last five years, investments in the housing sector have totalled $19.4B for the infrastructural development of 44,900 lots, which benefited a total number of 184,000 persons.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, made this disclosure recently when he noted that for this period, extensive works were carried out in schemes and squatter settlements across the country.
He explained that a major component of the housing and squatter upgrading programmes is the construction of infrastructure such as internal drainage systems and structures, macro drainage, access bridges, water distribution networks, access and secondary roads, the drilling of wells and the provision of electricity.
“In order to facilitate these projects, funding was obtained from various sources including the Government of Guyana through budgetary allocations; funds from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA); a grant from the European Union and a loan from the Inter-American development Bank,” Ali explained.
The minister said over the last five years, efforts were concentrated on strengthening the ministry’s work in the sector by continuing its drive to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life of low/moderate income groups.
“To facilitate this, the expenditure included the enhancement of community roads in urban and rural areas across the country and the acquisition of new lands in an effort to satisfy the growing demand for serviced land to facilitate house construction,” he said.

2006

In 2006, the CH&PA executed 50 projects across the country, with an expenditure that exceeded $1.5B, which went towards the development and servicing of more than 16,000 lots, an investment which benefited more than 65,000 persons.

2007

One year later, the Housing Ministry executed an additional 34 projects with an expenditure that exceeded $900M for the servicing of 7,800 lots which benefited more than 32,000 individuals.

2008

Sixteen projects were implemented during this year, with an expenditure that exceeded $800M and which resulted in the development of 6,900 lots, an investment that directly benefited 28,000 persons across the country.

2009

In this year, the CH&PA executed 15 projects across the country, facilitated by an expenditure that exceeded $5.2B.
This went towards the development and servicing of more than 3,200 lots and this investment benefited more than 13,000 persons.
A large portion of this expenditure was used to acquire more lands towards developing 17,000 new lots  before the end of 2011.

2010

In the year 2010,  the CH&PA executed 25 projects across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, Nine, and 10, for which they recorded more than $11B in actual and committed expenditure.
This went towards the development and servicing of more than 11,000 lots, which benefited more than 46,000 persons.
Minister Ali emphasized that the objectives of all  the government’s interventions continue to be consistent with the reduction of poverty, the improvement in the quality of life of low/moderate income earners, accessibility  of affordable housing and requisite financing, and the security of tenure in housing schemes and squatter settlements across the country.