100 homes to be constructed in Lethem Housing Support Programme

…to be completed in 1st quarter of 2023

The first hundred beneficiaries of the Lethem Housing Support Programme on Saturday signed their agreement with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to move forward with the construction of their homes.
The Lethem Housing Support Programme is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali. The agency will be constructing a $3 million low-income home and providing $1 million in support to each beneficiary for the building cost. Moreover, the Housing Ministry will be partnering with the New Building Society, Republic Bank Guyana Ltd, and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, as they will be offering loans to the tune of $2 million, at a rate of 3.5 per cent to the prospective homeowners.

Housing Minister Collin Croal stated that the programme is aimed at promoting occupancy in housing schemes. He noted that assessments showed close to 300 empty allocated lots existing in nearby schemes such as Tabatinga and Culvert City.
“So, what we also do in addition to allocations is to recognise and have support programmes that have home construction and homeownership at the fore,” Minister Croal said.
Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves stated that the project is also aimed at job creation and improving the regional economy.
“We are pleased to say that all the contractors are from Region Nine, all the timber and bricks are from Region Nine [and] all the workers that will be working on these houses will be from Region Nine,” the CEO stated.
During the activity agreements were also signed between CH&PA and the first two villages: Surama and Kwatamang for the supply of clay blocks. Moreover, Expressions of Interest have been published for lumber and other hardware materials to construct the homes. In another two weeks, these contracts are expected to be awarded.
Some 600 land allottees in Lethem are expected to benefit from the Lethem Housing Support Programme. With support provided by the Government, the allottees will not be required to provide collateral to the banks. They will also benefit from the Government’s steel and cement housing subsidy for the construction of their foundation. The first set of homes are slated for completion during the first quarter of 2023.
Approximately forty house lots were also distributed at the event. This will add to the close to 19,000 house lots allocated by the Ministry since 2020. (G12)