SOME 302 applications were approved in 2022 for the government’s “cement and steel” subsidy programme, which began in October, 2022.

The programme is being administered through the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The incentive caters to home builders constructing homes below $6 million and ranging up to $25 million. The government was expected to invest approximately $700 million into the programme in 2022.

“These activities benefitted the very poor and vulnerable, and also those who qualified for low, middle and high-income homes,” Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal, commented.

He added: “It feels good that we’re also able to help the vulnerable. It’s a sense of satisfaction knowing that we fulfilled a commitment as a government. When we asked the people to elect us, we said we would work every day to ensure that we uplift their environment and their social well-being. So, a lot of these developments happening in the housing sector it’s to uplift people, their families, and their social well-being.”

According to Minister Croal, with the inaugural batch of applicants having been approved, the next step will be for them to be issued with the necessary vouchers to uplift their materials.

Through this initiative, Guyanese constructing homes to the tune of $6 million and below could benefit from 80 lengths of ½ inch steel rods, 60 lengths 3/8 inch steel rods, and one sling of cement, while builders with estimates of above $6 million-$25 million will benefit from two slings of cement.

It was at the opening of International Building Expo 2022, that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, first announced the government’s plan to put the programme in place to continue the government’s aggressive agenda of making homeownership more affordable, and to boost the quality of life of Guyanese.

The programme is part to several initiatives and programmes by the government to support the aggressive housing drive all across the country.

The government has pledged to provide 50,000 house lots by 2025, and is well on target to reaching that goal, having allocated over 20,000 house lots over the past two years, in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine, and 10.

To be eligible to benefit from the cement and steel programme, applicants must own their land, have permission for construction from the requisite local government authority in their area, have an approved plan, and an estimate for their construction.

Interested applicants can apply at the ministry’s main office at 41 Brickdam, Georgetown, any CH&PA Regional Office, or online at mohw.gov.gy/chpa.gov.gy. Qualified persons will be issued with a voucher to purchase the materials at selected merchants.

In the process, officers from the CH&PA will follow up to ensure that the recipients receive what they are supposed to receive, and that they utilise it to the fullest.