– Defends policies amid allegations of bias
THE Ministry of Housing and Water has issued a robust response to recent allegations of discrimination within the government’s housing programme, refuting claims of bias and misinformation.

In a statement addressing a letter published in Stabroek News authored by Roysdale Forde, the Ministry emphasised its commitment to equitable land allocation and housing distribution since 2020. Through the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Ministry asserted that land has been issued to Guyanese citizens without prejudice based on race, gender, age, religion, geographical location, or political affiliation.

Highlighting the scale of their efforts, the Ministry revealed that 33,000 house lots have been allocated to date, with allocations quadrupling from 2015-2020. During the initial months of the current administration, allocations were reportedly distributed with approximately 50.90 per cent granted to Afro-Guyanese, underscoring the commitment to diverse representation.

In addressing the hinterland regions where individual land titles are not customary, the Ministry emphasised the positive impact of the Hinterland Housing Programme on indigenous families, providing homes at no construction cost to beneficiaries.
Furthermore, the Ministry outlined its focus on equitable socioeconomic development, with 91.8 per cent of allocations benefitting low to middle-income Guyanese. Empowering youth through homeownership is also a priority, with individuals aged 21-35 representing 52 per cent of allocations, while significant allocations have also been made to women.

Beyond land allocation and housing construction, the Ministry highlighted various community-based programmes aimed at enhancing the lives of vulnerable populations. Initiatives such as the Community-based Employment Stimulation Project (CESP) and the Laing Avenue Housing Grant Programme have provided job opportunities and essential materials for home rehabilitation.

Moreover, the Ministry emphasised its commitment to supporting home construction through initiatives like the Steel and Cement Voucher programme, benefitting over 1,092 Guyanese families across multiple regions. Additionally, the government’s Mortgage Interest Relief initiative has provided financial assistance to over 15,000 families across all income brackets.

In conclusion, the Ministry reiterated its dedication to transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in all aspects of housing initiatives, emphasising its ongoing commitment to serving the diverse needs of Guyanese citizens.

Below is the statement issued by the Ministry of Housing and Water:
The Ministry of Housing and Water has noted a recent letter in Stabroek News authored by Roysdale Forde containing misinformation and baseless allegations of discrimination within the government’s housing programme.
Since 2020, the Ministry, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority, has been issuing land to Guyanese citizens without bias or discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, geographical location, or political affiliation.

To date, 33,000 house lots have been allocated, prioritising applicants from 2019 and earlier, and quadrupling the allocations made from 2015-2020 by the previous administration. During the initial months of the current administration (August 2020-December 2020), approximately 50.90 per cent of allocations were granted to Afro-Guyanese, with the remainder distributed among Indo-Guyanese and other races. As of April 2024, our allocations stand at 45.9 per cent Afro-Guyanese and 46.7 per cent Indo-Guyanese and approximately 8per cent of other races.

In the hinterland regions where individual land titles are not customary, the Hinterland Housing Programme has positively impacted indigenous families by providing homes at no construction cost to the beneficiary.

Furthermore, our allocation process demonstrates a clear commitment to equitable socioeconomic development, with 91.8 per cent of allocations benefitting low-income, moderate-income and middle-income Guyanese, while only 8.2 per cent are directed towards high-income earners, reflecting our goal of reducing poverty and fostering inclusive growth.

Moreover, in keeping with our mandate to empowering youths through homeownership, individuals age 21-35 represent 52 per cent of our allocations. The housing programme has also seen 45.8 per cent of allocations going to women, 27.6 per cent males and 26.6 per cent being joint applications.

Beyond land allocation and housing construction, the Ministry has implemented various community-based programmes to enhance the lives of vulnerable populations. The Community-based Employment Stimulation Project (CESP) has facilitated job opportunities for persons with disabilities and residents in communities such as Leopold Street, Albouystown, North Ruimveldt, Mocha, and Victoria.

Further, the Laing Avenue Housing Grant Programme has assisted 122 families with essential materials to rehabilitate their homes, while the Steel and Cement Voucher initiative has pushed home construction for some 1,092 Guyanese families in private and government allocated lands across Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

Additionally, within the last three years there has been a steady increase in the number of families who have benefitted from the Government’s Mortgage Interest Relief initiative. In the past three years, the government has paid out in excess $2.4 Billion in refund to more than 15,000 families from every income bracket with mortgages on their homes.
The Ministry of Housing and Water remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in all aspects of our housing initiatives.