IN 2019, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will embark on the development of nine new areas inclusive of the Cumming Lodge housing development, the latter which will be a model in the delivery of a “community experience” for future housing developments.

According to a release from the Ministry of Communities, the CH&PA work programme for next year will see the upgrading of three recreational areas, consolidation of eighteen existing areas, installation of electricity in eight areas and the completion of four hundred and fifty housing units. It will also undertake full house subsidies in the Rupununi and preparation of spatial plans for several municipalities.

The ministry was at the time responding to an article titled “Jagdeo dismisses President’s parliamentary ploy” published in the Guyana Times October 19, 2018.

It said over the past three years, the government spent approximately $1.6 billion on consolidating the schemes ‘developed’ by the former administration at several areas across the country.

The schemes which benefited from the works are Zeelugt Phase Two & Three, East Bank Essequibo, West Minister on the West Bank of Demerara, Perseverance on the East Bank of Demerara, Hope/Experiment, West Coast Berbice as well as Kilcoy/Chesney, Berbice and Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

The Ministry of Communities noted that in the old housing model inherited by the government primarily focused on the divestment of land and the development of site and services schemes resulted in an alarmingly low occupancy rate.

“Mr. Jagdeo, dismissive of this administration’s efforts at salvaging the approach to housing, boasted of the distribution of over 100,000 house lots under the PPP as compared to the number of housing solutions built by this administration, in addition to the distribution of serviced lots, over the past three (3) years. This model has proven over the years to be a flawed and failed approach to satisfying the housing needs,” the ministry said.
It noted that during the period 2011-2015, thirty-eight (38) housing schemes were developed at the cost of approximately $13 billion and yielded approximately 20,000 house lots.
It noted that with an additional $16 billion required to complete the infrastructural work, less than 4000 units were built-an occupancy rate of 20 per cent. “This meant that 80 per cent of the house lots were undeveloped which poses significant challenges, security and otherwise to the homeowners,” the ministry said.

According to the ministry, being cognisant of the failure of the approach taken by the previous government, the APNU+AFC administration has tailored its housing policy to the provision of affordable housing solutions, in addition to the option of serviced lots, for low-income earners, state employees, and youths.

It said this model will see an occupancy rate of 100 per cent as opposed to the 20 per cent rate achieved under the old model. “Moreover, while the number of housing solutions built thus far might be modest, the benefits to potential homeowners cannot be dismissed, taking into consideration the stress and challenges associated with construction for which no profit accrues to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA),” the ministry noted.

It noted that while the PPP administration embarked on a ‘turn-key’ initiative under its “1000 Homes Programme,” it was overshadowed by the construction of a number of defective houses that even rendered some uninhabitable and had to be rectified by this administration.

“The CH&PA mindful of the huge backlog and demand for housing will not be distracted in its quest of satisfying the housing needs of the working class but will redouble its efforts in this regard,” the ministry said.

Additionally, in keeping with the local government agenda which emphasises the primacy of local government, a number of housing schemes will be transferred in 2019 to the respective local organs for its effective management and development.