Guyana: Government Initiates Efforts to Address Housing Backlog in Region Five

The Government of Guyana has commenced a campaign to address the housing backlog in Region Five, with nearly 1,000 house lots becoming available. Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal announced this initiative during a recent outreach event held by the Ministry of Housing and Water in Rosignol.

Minister Croal stated that this effort marks the beginning of the process to tackle pending housing applications during the current term of the Government. He emphasized the commitment made in the Government’s manifesto to clear all pending applications in regions like Region Five.

According to the minister, the Central Housing and Planning Authority has recorded over 4,000 applications for house lots in the region. However, he acknowledged that some applicants may have migrated, relocated, or acquired housing elsewhere. To address the demand for housing, the Government has been collaborating with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to secure additional lands.

The latest allocations of house lots are being made in the Experiment and Track A-O developments, prioritizing individuals who attended the October 2024 allocation exercise but were unable to secure lots due to limited availability. In addition to distributing house lots, the minister mentioned that work is progressing to ensure that the new developments are equipped with necessary infrastructure.

Minister Croal also revealed that over 550 certificates of title were available for distribution during the outreach event, including titles for lands at Experiment and in the Blairmont-Shieldstown area. He noted that title processing has improved significantly, reducing the time taken to process titles from over six months to approximately three months.

Furthermore, the outreach provided support to residents constructing homes through the Government’s steel and cement subsidy program, with over 90 residents expected to benefit from a combined assistance of $21 million. To date, more than $73 million has been distributed under this initiative in the region.

Additionally, Minister Croal announced plans to expand housing development further east in Region Five, specifically in the Mahaicony area, while lands remain available in the Borma area. He assured residents that their needs have not been overlooked and that efforts are underway to develop housing schemes closer to their communities.

Source: snn.gy

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