– Empowers citizens with home-ownership opportunities
IN a significant step towards realising the dream of homeownership for many Guyanese citizens, the Ministry of Housing and Water continued its efforts with the distribution of 1,000 house lots, certificates of title, and steel-and-cement vouchers at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday.

This initiative, part of the ongoing Dream Realised Housing Drive for 2024, aims to provide accessible housing solutions to eligible residents of the Non-Pareil Housing Scheme and Enterprise Phase Two in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, acknowledged that many applicants had been waiting for a long time because of the backlog of over 40,000 applications. However, he clarified that the government, through his ministry, has given priority to applications submitted in 2019 and earlier.

According to the minister, “we have to clear from a certain year to make sure that there is a level playing field for all. In addition…history is more than the path that is left by the past; it influences the present, and it can shape the future.”
During his presentation at the second major Dream Realised Housing Drive 2024, Minister Croal also added that the aim of these initiatives is to make home ownership a reality for the citizens of Guyana.

Minister Croal mentioned that the Non Pareil and Enterprise Phase two area has been assigned 1000 house lots for Guyanese, making it capable of accommodating more than 3000 lots. “In addition to all the amenities, we have a GWI treatment facility, a GPL sub-station that is stationed within this community,” he added,

The housing minister also emphasised that housing plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable development goals, with a primary focus on reducing poverty, promoting economic development, and enhancing climate resilience. The minister noted that, “keeping up with the demand for houses, lots of houses are being constructed, in addition to the allocation of house lots in this region.”

Minister Croal also stressed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, during its three and a half years in power, has granted more than 19,405 residential plots to people from all backgrounds in Region Four alone.

“In summary, 63 per cent of our total allocations since we have been in office have been allocated to Region number Four. This year, we have about $18.2 billion being spent on infrastructural development and this includes areas such as Good Hope, Non-Pareil, and Enterprise. Various portions, we have various phases, and we have various blocks, more than 25 acres of land are being catered for, 7582 residential lots.”

Moreover, the minister shared that they have initiated the construction of more than 2,307 houses, which are in different phases of development, and a portion of the population is already residing in their respective dwellings. Minister Croal also identified additional “critical projects,” such as expanding the four-lane road from the Eccles Landfill Road to the Windsor Estate junction, which connects to the East Bank Public Road. Furthermore, there are plans to expand and improve the ‘Massy road,’ Windsor Estate, and the Greenfield road.

“We also have the Diamond to Craig four-lane highway, which will be completed by the end of the year, with the continuation of the Craig to Land of Canaan four-lane highway for which the tenders are out now, so it means the construction will commence this year,” Minister Croal explained.

Regarding Silica City, Minister Croal mentioned that the construction of the first set of 100 houses for young professionals has started, and these houses will be available in four different models.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, explained how pleased they are as a government and as a ministry that the dreams of Guyanese to own their own homes are being realised by the administration.

“Today you will see 1000 allottees being awarded their house lots, a number of people receiving their steel-and-cement vouchers,… and we will also see a number of people receiving their certificates of title, which is also a very important part of the process on the journey to home ownership,” Minister Rodrigues related.

While using the housing programme as a vehicle to transform the lives of the Guyanese people, Minister Rodrigues also explained to the large gathering that, the empowerment that one feels in owning their own homes is the best method to alter and bring wealth into their lives.

According to her, it is especially meaningful for them as a government and for her as a female minister to see that women feel a better sense of stability and independence that they have accomplished a major milestone in their lives.
The banks, insurance companies, and every aspect of the Ministry of Housing and Water were there to guide and answer any questions that the allottees may have had regarding their homes.