FROM the beginning of its term in office, the Irfaan Ali-led government indicated its strong commitment to the development of Guyana’s housing sector. In fact, it set what some had described as an ambitious goal of allocating 50,000 house lots to Guyanese by the end of its first term.

Now over the half way mark, 30,468 lots have already been distributed to elated Guyanese of all ages and walks of life, who are now one step closer to one of the most sought-after life achievements – home ownership.

Though expensive, many want to have their own homes and because of various circumstances, including lack of financing, this could only be a dream. However, the PPP/C administration and those at the Ministry of Housing and Water have pulled all the stops to turn this dream into reality.

The expansion of the housing sector involves a multifaceted plan and many stakeholders, including various ministries, banks and utility companies. Working together as a team, they have all done their part to ensure that thousands of Guyanese families now have the opportunity to not only improve their living circumstances, but also to increase their net worth and financial status.

With the impressive numbers recently revealed, the PPP/C government is well on its way to achieving its 50,000 goal with some suggesting that it will be surpassed before the term ends.

A perusal of the list of allottees reveals government’s genuine desire to uplift women and provide youths with a foundation for a productive life. Access to housing is only a small part of the plans as government has tailored a number of programmes that are geared towards upskilling youths and women, providing them with opportunities to become self-sufficient and to contribute to Guyana’s growing economy.

All of this comes together perfectly as these persons are being given an avenue to earn more so that they can afford mortgages and meet the financial requirements of banks and other lending institutions.

According to the numbers coming from the Ministry of Housing, 15,119 or 53.3 per cent of the house lot allottees were 35 years old or younger. Additionally, for the first two years, there was a consistent 40 per cent allocation to women only. For 2023, that percentage soared to around 43 per cent.

Further, approximately 90 per cent of allottees were between low- to moderate income, another indication of the government’s commitment to improving the lives of Guyanese, particularly those of low economic status.

The remarkable success of the housing programme is a reflection of a promise kept and how the government of the day has been able to fix the mess left behind by the APNU+AFC, who during their time in office (2015-2020), allocated only 7,534 house lots; this is a number that is far less than what the PPP/C administration had allocated in 2023 alone.

The year 2024 is a promising year for potential allottees and those who can now commence building their homes.
It is clear that the PPP/C government has no intention of stopping its aggressive housing drive as its ultimate goal is to ensure that all house lot applications are granted and that every Guyanese can be a home-owner.

These commendable efforts have not gone unnoticed. They have given us all hope that greater things are in store for all Guyanese.