MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn, has said that the government is committed to clearing the existing housing backlog across most of the country by the end of 2027 as land acquisition is being accelerated along with housing development and other homeownership initiatives.
Benn made this known while appearing on a recent episode of the Starting Point podcast, during which she stated that thousands of Guyanese are currently waiting for their applications to be addressed as the Ministry works to provide house lots and homes.
“We are committed to ensuring that we clear that backlog in the time that has been stipulated,” Benn affirmed.
She noted that the target is to bring all regions, with the exception of Region Four, up to date by the end of 2027.
The minister said the backlog remains a significant concern for the Ministry, acknowledging the frustration of applicants who have been waiting for years to secure a house lot or home.
According to Benn, the ministry is acquiring additional lands to expand the availability of housing, including purchasing land from private owners and converting it into housing schemes. Lands are also being acquired from GuySuCo and rice farmers as the government seeks to increase the amount of land available for residential development.
She explained that the country does not have as much readily available land for housing as may be perceived, making land acquisition an important part of the Ministry’s strategy.
The Government has set a target of delivering 40,000 housing solutions during its current five-year term, comprising both homes and house lots.
However, Benn indicated that Region Four presents a particular challenge with more than 50,000 persons awaiting allocations there.
She attributed this large backlog in the region to its population concentration, economic activity, businesses and services.
To this end, Benn disclosed that the ministry is looking at higher-density housing options, including townhouses, which she said would allow more people to be accommodated on available parcels of land.
The Ministry is also addressing infrastructural constraints within housing schemes, including roads and drainage, while taking action against contractors who fail to meet contractual obligations. As such, she disclosed that some contracts have already been terminated, although such action can result in additional delays because of the need to retender the works.
For Region Four, Benn said the ministry has already expanded the application period being addressed.
When the current administration took office, applications from 2019 and earlier were among those being considered; this has since been extended to include applications from 2021 and earlier.
Meanwhile, beyond providing house lots, she said that the ministry is pursuing several measures to help people move towards actual home-ownership.
With this, she indicated that ministry’s approach is therefore not limited to distributing house lots, but involves expanding land availability, constructing houses, providing construction assistance and supporting vulnerable families in their pursuit of home-ownership.