IN a significant step towards providing sustainable and affordable housing solutions, the government has announced plans to construct the first 50 young professional homes at the Leonora/Groenveldt housing area in Region Three.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, revealed this initiative during his recent inspection of various housing areas in the region. The move aligns with the government’s overarching goal of facilitating homeownership opportunities for Guyanese citizens.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to its national housing programme, Minister Croal emphasised the focus on constructing houses, distributing house lots, and implementing diverse housing solutions to cater to the needs of the populace.

Acknowledging the demand for young professional houses, Minister Croal disclosed that the ministry’s project department would initiate the procurement process in the coming weeks to engage contractors for the construction phase.
This project forms a crucial component of the government’s affordable housing initiative, aimed at enabling individuals to own houses within vibrant and wholesome communities. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop both new and existing areas for housing infrastructure, addressing the backlog of house lots nationwide.

Amidst challenges such as rising building material costs, the housing ministry remains committed to ensuring that these properties remain within reasonable budgets. Minister Croal underscored that the focus is not on profit but on providing quality housing at base prices accessible to beneficiaries through financial institutions.
Updates on ongoing projects were also provided, with 89 young professional homes completed at Providence and Prospect, while 425 are currently under construction.

In line with its manifesto pledges, the PPP/C Government reiterates its commitment to delivering 50,000 house lots to Guyanese citizens within its first term in office, reaffirming its dedication to addressing housing needs comprehensively.
Meanwhile, alongside major allocation exercises planned for Region Three which has a backlog of more than 11,000 contractors are mobilising and constructions are ongoing for some 440, low-moderate and high-income housing units.

Recently, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bishram Kuppen conducted a site visit to several locations within Region Three where some of the units are located and sites where construction will commence.
These areas include Anna Catherina where 63, two-bedroom units are completed, Leonora 172, Groenveldt 159, Edinburgh 25, and Meten-Meer-Zorg 25.

Out of this lot, two private developers will be constructing twenty-five three and two bedrooms each, while the first 50 young professional units in the region will be constructed at Groenveldt.
According to Minister Croal the units, some of which have already been allocated while some are yet to be constructed will aid in meeting the housing demand in the region. He told reporters that the units also represent the agency’s commitment to providing equal housing opportunities for citizens in every region. The Minister also references the spin-off benefit of the booming construction sector in the region, noting that all the contractors who have been awarded are from within the region.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary Kuppen, noted his satisfaction with the projects visited, saying that the agency remains committed to delivering on the government’s mandate to provide affordable housing for all. Citing the government’s housing program as one of the best in the Caribbean, Kuppen noted that the Agency also continues to do all in its power to subsidise the cost of housing options available.

Noting that while the agency is subsidising the cost of the housing options, this by no means takes away from the quality of the final product.