WITH the ‘Housing Solutions 2017 & Beyond’ Exhibition just two weeks away, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is calling on corporate Guyana to get on board.
Already, some of the biggest names in the finance industry have signed up to be a part of the coming event, which will allow Guyanese to prequalify for housing loans on the ground.

On Tuesday, Jenelle Carter, one of the public relations officers attached to CH&PA, disclosed that approximately 20 companies and organisations have already registered to exhibit their products and services during the exposition billed for May 26-28 at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara. “So far we have managed to secure sponsorship from companies such as Guy Construction, New Building Society…Republic Bank, GBTI, Citizens Bank and other companies like GAFOORS and Courts,” Carter pointed out. Insurance companies have also signed up for this expo.

According to her, at least one of the commercial banks listed is in the process of preparing a package, that will allow for potential home-owners to prequalify for housing loans during the Housing Solutions 2017 & Beyond’ Exhibition. “The homes on the ground that are being built will be available for purchase after the expo…So you can go and prequalify yourself on the ground, once you have the required documents like your pay slip, job letter and proof of address,” she posited.
Additionally, Carter noted that the houses being built will be fully furnished during the expo. “One of the concepts we are bringing to this expo is giving persons an opportunity to see what their homes would look like fully furnished, so we have companies on board like Kissoon who would furnish an entire home,” she explained.

However, Carter said there are more spots available for exhibitors. It was explained that interested businesses and companies can visit the Model Community in Perseverance ahead of the event and speak with CH&PA personnel who are on the ground, to determine the best offer, before signing up. The expo is set to have on display 10 low-income, five moderate and eight middle-income houses, as well as six duplexes and two single units, built by the CH&PA and private contractors.

These include duplexes of three designs and flat houses on stilts. The initiative, according to the Ministry of Communities, is a step in the path to create a “cohesive community” in Perseverance. The area was strategically chosen because the layout is set to accommodate 570 house lots, some of which will help with reducing the 25,000 housing applications backlog within the CH&PA system. Some 200 houses have already been built in the area and the houses that will be on display at the expo will add to the community. At the end of festivities, the houses will be sold.