PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, announced that the Ministry of Housing and Water will work to eliminate the existing backlog of housing applications in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) by the end of this year. The Head of State made the announcement during a community outreach held in New Amsterdam, where the President engaged directly with residents of Berbice.

He assured Berbicians that all individuals who submitted housing applications on or before December 31, 2024, will receive official letters. He emphasised the government’s commitment to accelerating the processing of applications to ensure that individuals are granted access to housing opportunities on time.

To the residents gathered in New Amsterdam, President Ali told them that every single applicant who applied on or before December 31, 2024, will have an allocation this year “because we want to bring the allocation to zero in Region Six.”

The President highlighted that this initiative forms part of his administration’s broader housing agenda, aimed at improving the standard of living for citizens, reducing the housing deficit, and fostering community development across the country.

This move is expected to bring relief to hundreds of applicants in Region Six who have been waiting for years for housing solutions, and it demonstrates the government’s continued focus on delivering on its promise to expand access to affordable housing for all Guyanese.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, related that over 18,000 house lots have been allocated to women across Guyana since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government assumed office. She made this statement during a community engagement with residents of East Canje, Berbice, where she emphasised the administration’s strong commitment to the empowerment of women through homeownership.

According to her, 2,200 house lots have already been allocated to residents of Region Six, while on the 25th and 26th of April, the ministry will be returning to allocate some 1,600 more house lots to those pending applicants.