–Minister Croal says, highlights gov’t commitment to enhancing community infrastructure, expanding homeownership

DESIGNATED truck parks will soon be established in every region as part of the Government’s push to ease traffic congestion, improve community safety and enhance the overall look and functionality of residential areas, Minister of Housing Collin Croal has said.
The Minister made the disclosure during a recent airing of Budget In Focus, where he outlined how the administration intends to build on what it has described as an unprecedented five years of delivery in housing and community development.
With the rapid increase in heavy-duty vehicles linked to economic expansion, Croal said the Government has moved decisively to develop truck parks across multiple regions. One such facility is already under construction at Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), while tendering has been completed for additional sites along the East Coast and in other regions.
The initiative, he noted, has become urgent as Guyana continues to record an average of approximately 10,000 new vehicles every three months.
“We’ll provide a facility for persons who have these trucks [so] that they can be able to park their trucks at a fee, or they can even service, repair, or whatever is required. It is not desirable either, because [of] the way the oil is disposed of is not correct,” the minister said.
Croal stressed that the development of truck parks forms part of a broader national effort to protect residential communities while supporting economic activity.
In this regard, he pointed to the establishment of a national task force by President Irfaan Ali, which includes the Ministry of Housing and Water, and is mandated to address drainage, lighting, safety and overall community aesthetics.
The announcement comes as the ministry reflects on its 2020–2025 performance, during which more than 53,000 house lots were allocated, thousands of homes were constructed, and tens of thousands of land titles were processed.
According to Minister Croal, these outcomes were not coincidental but flowed directly from commitments outlined in the 2020 People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) manifesto.
“So when commitments are made, or promises are made, then you know, it’s not idle,” he said.
As part of its $159.1 billion allocation for housing in 2026, the minister said there are plans for thousands of more Guyanese to benefit from home ownership, especially young professionals, vulnerable groups and first-time homeowners.
As part of the plan, the Government will construct 40,000 homes nationwide. Once completed, the houses are expected to benefit 40,000 families across all income categories.
For 2026 alone, the government has allocated $159.1 billion for housing development. With these resources, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will continue infrastructural works in both new and existing housing areas and will allocate house lots to at least 15,000 households this year.
In addition, the government plans to distribute 8,000 house lots and issue at least 7,000 certificates of title, allowing thousands of families to receive legal ownership documents for their properties.
The housing push builds on sustained state investment in residential infrastructure, including roads, drainage, water supply and electricity, in expanding communities such as Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Felicity, Great Diamond, Amelia’s Ward and others.
To improve efficiency and reduce delays, the Government has introduced a single-window approval system for building applications and digitised several previously manual processes within the housing sector.
Beyond new construction, the 2026 housing programme places strong emphasis on improving quality of life in existing communities, with coordinated upgrades aimed at creating safer, more orderly and more liveable neighbourhoods nationwide.