Ever since the government kicked off its housing programme the momentum has kept increasing and today hundreds of thousands of Guyanese own a house lot or have already built their houses making a dream become reality. This was a dream a few decades ago which seemed unattainable because of the absence of a housing programme under the People’s National Congress (PNC) government.
These words from a woman at Bath, West Coast Berbice, after receiving her house lot sums up the joy and gratitude of all those who have received house lots under the current housing programme. She declared: “I can’t believe this is happening to me; I never thought that I would be able to achieve this, not just for me but my son as well. I am really happy our dreams came true today.”
One of the notable features about the housing programme is that development of housing schemes is not limited to any single region but rather across the country. Admittedly, housing development is more advanced in some regions but this is due to demographics, logistics and availability of lands for housing. There are some regions which have much more lands for housing purposes. One such example is Region 3 which perhaps has more new housing schemes than any other in the country. In fact, in the early days of the housing programme, it was in Region 3 where it kicked off with a boom with the establishment of the massive Tuschen Housing Scheme which at that time was the largest in the country.
The government has invested close to $15 billion towards the development of Region Three over the last 10 years, according to Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali. This investment has benefited some 94,000 people in the region, an area that has experienced tremendous growth, particularly in the housing sector
From all indications housing in this region is set for huge expansion as Minister of Housing and Water recently announced 23,000 new lots being available here in Region Three, benefiting more than 94,000 people.
The government is cognisant of the role of housing in the transformation of people’s lives, particularly the poorer sections of the population.
Speaking at a One Stop Shop at Zeelugt recently,Minister Ali reassured residents of government’s unswerving commitment to housing development Ali said: :“Government understands the critical role that housing plays in transforming the lives of people and improving the family unit, bringing families closer; so we must appreciate and understand this huge progress that has been made in the housing sector in Region Three,” he said.

On this note, however, it has been observed that many poor people who have acquired their house lots find it difficult to get the money required to construct their houses because of the rigid requirements within the banking system. This perhaps has resulted in some people’s house lots being unfortunately repossessed.
Maybe the ministry could enter into discussions with the bankers to see by what means further help could be given, especially to poor people, to help them acquire loans for building their houses.
Undoubtedly, the housing momentum is at a frenetic pace and if it continues at the same rate then it is almost a certainty that all Guyanese would in the near future become proud home owners.
The government must be given credit for the implementation of an effective housing programme despite what its detractors may be saying. One has to be downright barefaced to deny that housing development in this country has not made remarkable progress under the current government.