PRESIDENT David Granger has said that it is time Guyanese move away from the “purely corporate turnkey structure” and endorse initiatives that promote home ownership through aided self-help.According to him, aided self-help programmes will meet the needs of the poor and working class. He explained that with access to cheaper lands, the target groups can build their homes by themselves, instead of depending on a corporation.

“That is one of the reasons why, instead of having a Ministry of Local Government, we created something called the Ministry of Communities, so that instead of relying purely on a corporate transaction between a buyer and a seller, we can look at building communities and getting working people involved in aided self-help schemes,” he said.

President Granger said the government, in 2016, will be making budgetary provision to facilitate the establishment of aided self-help schemes.

Within the next five years, the Government of Guyana, through the Communities Ministry, will work assiduously to enhance the housing delivery system through the completion of infrastructure prior to the allocation of lots and construction of houses, he said.

Additionally, Communities Minister Keith Scott has said his ministry will also be promoting public/private partnerships to facilitate the provision of social infrastructure and community services, among other initiatives.

“The resulting impact would not only see the living conditions and, incidentally, the quality of life of beneficiaries and households improved, but ultimately the formation of cohesive and sustainable communities,” the Communities Minister told the National Assembly during the 2015 Budget Debate.

Minister Scott said that, in partnership with Food for the Poor and Habitat for Humanity, as well as hardware suppliers and other investors, the Communities Ministry will be encouraging innovative financing for housing, mortgage interest support for low and middle-income groups, and incentives for aided self-help.

Government has commenced the planning phase for the establishment of a new, cohesive community at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (EBD), catering to the construction of 1,000 homes.
Additionally, the government will focus on construction of the fifth batch of 50 two-bedroom houses at Perseverance. Further, by December 2015, a total of 200 serviced lots will be allocated at Diamond/Grove, Farm, Covent Garden, Herstelling and Providence, all East Bank Demerara communities.

It is expected that, by 2020, the Ministry will facilitate construction of 4,000 homes, meeting the housing needs of approximately 16,000 families.

As a result of this extensive housing development programme, Minister Scott said, the government will have zero tolerance for squatting. “We will embark on a serious squatting regularisation and containment initiative,” he warned.

It was pointed out that efforts would be made to clear squatters from the East and West Ruimveldt areas. However, those squatters will be provided with a number of alternatives.