–on course for January completion

MINISTER of Housing, Collin Croal, on Friday inspected the construction of 100 low-income houses at the Le Reconnaissance Housing Development, East Coast Demerara, as the ministry continues to expand its national housing programme.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Housing, the two-bedroom units, valued at $5.6 million each, are approximately 15 per cent complete and are expected to be completed by the end of January 2027. All 100 units have already been allocated.
Eight contractors are currently executing the works, with more than 120 workers employed on the project.
Minister Croal said the development forms part of the government’s broader approach to increasing the supply of constructed homes, particularly as more applicants are expressing a preference for completed units rather than residential lots alone.
“The demand for built units is high, and we have moved beyond just speaking about allocations. There are many persons who are working and want to have the finished product,” Minister Croal said.
He explained that traditional construction will remain an important component of the housing programme, even as the ministry advances new approaches, including prefabricated and modular housing, to support the government’s target of constructing 40,000 homes over the next five years.
“The traditional way of constructing houses will continue. What we are trying to do does not displace the conventional type of housing construction,” the minister stated.
Minister Croal also highlighted the employment opportunities being generated through the project. He noted that contractors continue to require additional skilled workers, including masons, demonstrating the wider economic benefits of the government’s housing programme.
The minister further disclosed that another housing initiative will soon be announced to support persons who already own land, but require assistance accessing contractors to construct their homes.
Overall, approximately 175 low-income houses form part of the housing programme at Le Reconnaissance. The 100 units currently under construction complement an earlier block of 75 homes.
The visit forms part of the ministry’s ongoing monitoring of housing projects countrywide to ensure that construction progresses within established timelines, while expanding access to affordable home ownership.