IN a country where homeownership is not just a goal but a life-changing milestone, the Irfaan Ali-led administration has written a remarkable chapter in Guyana’s development story.
Surpassing its 2020 campaign promise of allocating 50,000 house lots by 2025, the government has delivered not only on its word, but also on a vision of inclusive, equitable, and affordable housing for all Guyanese.

This achievement is not just about numbers—it marks a transformational shift in public-policy execution. The scale, reach, and depth of the government’s housing drive are unmatched in Guyana’s post-independence history.

From urban centres to remote hinterland communities, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has made homeownership a tangible reality for tens of thousands, particularly for low-income families, single parents and first-time homeowners.

In stark contrast, the opposition’s track record tells a different story. During its time in office from 2015 to 2020, the APNU+AFC coalition processed fewer than 8,000 land titles—a figure that pales in comparison to the more than 14,700 processed under the current government, with another 2,500 already pending completion.

And yet, in what can only be described as political theatre, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton at a recent APNU rally attempted to discredit these monumental strides.
Rather than presenting viable alternatives or meaningful critiques, Norton offered deflection and denial, a strategy that Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal rightfully described as “burying his head in the sand.” His remarks did not go unnoticed—and certainly not unchallenged. The facts speak louder than any rally rhetoric: APNU’s time in office was marked by a stagnation in housing development, while under the PPP/C, there has been an aggressive and effective push to empower citizens through property ownership.

Just days ago, the Housing Ministry returned to Linden, Region 10, a traditional APNU stronghold, unveiling new phases of housing development in Wismar and Amelia’s Ward. This was not symbolic politics; it was a direct response to over 4,000 pending applications in the region, affirming the government’s commitment to equity in delivery, regardless of political leaning.
Equally commendable is the administration’s attention to affordability and construction support. More than 40 families in Linden received $225,000 steel and cement vouchers to begin building their homes, a policy model that combines dignity with development.

In addition, the removal of VAT on building materials and low-interest mortgages made possible through partnerships with local banks demonstrate a government that understands the socioeconomic barriers to homeownership and is actively dismantling them.

Perhaps most striking are the equity metrics: 47% of all house lots allocated have gone to women, and 90 per cent to low-income earners. These are not accidental outcomes. They reflect a deliberate policy orientation that seeks to reverse decades of structural exclusion and make housing a right, not a privilege.

Initiatives such as the Lethem Housing Support Programme and the Hinterland Housing Programme are prime examples of a government decentralising development and including remote and Indigenous communities in the national transformation. These programmes were not conceptualised under APNU, nor were they executed. The PPP/C, on the other hand, has not only created them but has also delivered results that are visible, verifiable and valued by citizens.

This is what visionary governance looks like. President Ali and his administration have made housing the backbone of Guyana’s post-oil era social development agenda. While the critics continue their political contortions, the government is building communities—literally and figuratively—through bricks, mortar, and bold policy.

At a time when Guyana is undergoing rapid transformation, it is critical that the narrative not be hijacked by naysayers whose only currency is political discontent. The public deserves substance, not soundbites. The housing achievements of this administration must be viewed not in isolation, but as part of a broader architecture of inclusive governance.
Indeed, when future historians write of this era, they will note not just the 50,000 house lots—but the lives changed, the communities uplifted and the hope restored across Guyana.