-access to housing a fundamental right for all citizens, Minister Croal says
-lauds President Ali for his ‘visionary leadership’ in housing drive

THE Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Housing and Water, launched their Third International Building Exposition under the theme “Building on the Foundation of Sustainability and Unity” at the Ramada Hotel in Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Thursday night.

A platform will be created to allow small, medium, and large companies to showcase their wide range of housing-related goods and services from August 8th–11th at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence EBD.

During Thursday night’s launch, the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, emphasised that Guyana’s recent transition to an oil-producing nation has resulted in a number of new demands, such as the need for “reimagined housing,” which promotes a cleaner environment, dual footprints, and innovation to make climate-friendly homes more accessible.

Anticipating that more innovations in housing will be displayed at the expo which is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, Minister Croal said: “I hope that we will certainly have more solutions…when the expo gets underway in August of this year. We have seen a number of new innovations in the housing sector that make climate-friendly housing more attainable.

“As you will know, we are very open to partnerships and collaboration with industries and stakeholders that will help more of our people achieve home ownership.”

Acknowledging President Ali for his “visionary leadership,” Minister Croal explained that, as part of home ownership, they were tasked by the President to construct as many houses as possible so that Guyanese can have a more comfortable and secure future for themselves and their families.

Expressing his satisfaction that the government and his ministry are getting closer to their goal of assigning 50,000 residential lots within the five-year period to Guyanese, Minister Croal also revealed that based on the recent statistics, they have distributed more than 23,000 lots.

Also, Minister Croal said, “We have already handed over 1,687 houses to new homeowners, and as I speak, but not limited to, we have over 1,500 houses that are near completion. These are the results of visionary leadership and successful partnerships between government and industry partners.”

Emphasising the significance of affordable housing for the people of Guyana and the Caribbean, the housing minister said: “Access to housing is a fundamental right for all of our citizens, and therefore it is a priority of our government.”

Additionally, Minister Croal expressed his gratitude on behalf of the government and the Ministry of Housing to the contractors, the banks, the insurance companies, and local and international businesses that have kept the construction and home ownership status in the sector robust.

“This partnership that we share is beautiful; we have been providing safe spaces for many of our fellow citizens who were unable to have access before for their children to find a comfortable environment, stability, and a new community.

Although it may seem elusive at times, slowly we are proving that anyone, no matter their circumstances, we can change their status of having a home,” Minister Croal explained.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said she is pleased that International Building Expo 2024 will be the third of its type for their administration since assuming office in 2020.

“The International Building Expo has become a household product in Guyana because there is something for everyone. It is a family event as much as it is a corporate event; from the first expo after COVID, our number of exhibitors grew from 356 in 2022 to 450 in 2023, and this year we are expecting approximately 500 exhibitors and corporate sponsors.”

Minister Rodrigues also noted that, due to the expo, they have seen similar growth in visitors. According to her, in 2022, they had over 100,000 patrons who visited the expo, while they had an increase of 120,000 in 2023.
Anticipating that this year would be bigger than the others, Minister Rodrigues said, “We are expecting the same level of overwhelming support in 2024, especially with support from our regional and international partners.

“This year, under the theme ‘Building on the foundation of sustainability and unity’, we will witness a remarkable gathering of professionals, enthusiasts, and stakeholders all united by a shared vision of sustainability and innovation in our built environment.”

Aiming to enhance the experience of both visitors and exhibitors, Minister Rodrigues added that the expo will be planned to guarantee a seamless flow while showcasing sustainable and eco-friendly innovations.

The International Building Expo 2024 launch was attended by other government officials, diplomats, exhibitors, and business representatives from the private and public sectors.