-5000 land titles, transports to be distributed this year
-Works progressing swiftly in over a dozen housing areas

WITH the objective of distributing 50,000 house lots by the end of their initial term, an allocation of $78 billion has been set aside to facilitate the development of housing infrastructure in 2024.

This is according to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who unveiled the annual fiscal plan in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Finance Minister stated that since assuming office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has made tremendous strides in the housing sector; that is, the sector that was reduced to a mere department under the previous administration.

“Mr. Speaker, over 30,000 house lots [were] allocated since we took office and we are well on our way to exceed our target of 50,000 house lots during our first term of office,” Dr Singh boasted.

As they remain dedicated to improving the living standards for all Guyanese, the minister stated that the PPP/C government has delivered 6822 land titles and transports to residents since 2020.

According to him, 5,000 more will be distributed in 2024.

Moreover, works are swiftly progressing in areas including Amelia’s Ward, Balthyock, Burma, Charity, De-Endragt, De Kinderen, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Great Diamond, Hope, La Bonne Intention, Leonora, Le Ressouvenir, Lethem, No. 75 and 76 Villages, Palmyra, Peter’s Hall, Shieldstown and Stewartville.

He also noted that in 2023, under the steel-and-cement subsidy programme, 2,266 persons were registered, and 962 vouchers were issued to date, whose value is $131.6 million.

Adding to this, housing has been made easier for people within all tax brackets, especially low-income earners: 706 homes were completed at areas including Anna Catherina, Edinburg, Great Diamond, Leonora, Lethem, Nappi, Ordnance Fortlands, Prospect, Williamsburg/Hampshire, and Yakarinta. The construction of an additional 487 homes is currently underway.

For moderate-income earners, 370 houses were completed at Amelia’s Ward, Cummings Lodge, and Little Diamond. Ongoing efforts are being made to construct an additional 222 homes.

As it relates to the young professionals, 89 homes were completed, while work is ongoing for the construction of 425 additional homes at La Bonne Intention, Little Diamond, Prospect and Providence.

Notwithstanding these advancements, the government has not neglected the goal of making housing more accessible for hinterland residents.

According to the minister, under the Lethem Housing Support Initiative, over 300 people were pre-qualified for loans, 100 loan applications have been approved, 12 homes were completed, and 36 homes were currently being constructed.

Notably, last year, the sum of $52.7 billion was spent on the construction of roads, drains, and bridges in the respective housing areas.

WATER AND SANITATION

Improving water quality and ensuring that there is an increase in supply systems have been targets for this government, according to the Finance Minister.

With that said, $22.5 billion has been budgeted to further upgrade and extend water-supply systems.

With approximately 72,000 residents expected to be beneficiaries, Dr. Singh mentioned that works on T&D mains in Annandale Housing Scheme, Cotton Tree, El Dorado, Fellowship, New Amsterdam, and Providence are progressing.

Moreover, in 2024, work will advance on the drilling of wells at Bamia, Caledonia, Lima, and Onderneeming and begin at Fellowship, Timehri, and Vergenoegen.

“We have raised it from 46 per cent to 82 per cent in the space of three years to further improve hinterland water-supply systems,” the Minister boasted.

Additionally, in 2024, to further improve hinterland water-supply systems in areas including Baracara, Kimbia, Santa Cruz, Santa Mission, St. Ignatius, Saxacalli, Orealla, Red Hill, Wakapao, Wax Creek and Wiruni, an amount of $1.5 billion has been allocated.

The upgrading of the 12 existing water-treatment plants will be completed in 2024, according to him, along with the substantial completion of seven new water-treatment plants.

Moreover, procurement has been launched to construct another five water-treatment plants at Adventure, Bath, Leguan, Maria’s Delight, and Wakenaam. For these and other interventions are aimed at improving water quality.

With over 400,000 residents expected to gain significantly from this, a sum of $14 billion has been budgeted.

In 2024, $2.6 billion has been budgeted to advance efforts in upgrading solid-waste infrastructure and other initiatives which include $1.3 billion for infrastructural, environmental, and capacity-building support and the continued operation of landfill sites.

Also, $572.6 million has been allocated towards the continued upgrade of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill site, including the completion of a semi-aerobic cell to enable increased capacity.
Additionally, the upgrade of landfill sites will be undertaken in areas including Leguan, Mabaruma, Santa Rosa, Wakenaam, and Yupukari.

Moreover, $92 million was spent on the procurement of waste-management equipment, which includes a tyre shredder, water, and air quality testing equipment, and stationary compactor bins.