The Housing Ministry has allocated house lots to 150 residents of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), who will soon call the new extension of the Five Mile Housing Scheme their home.
The first batch of persons had the opportunity to select their respective lot numbers on Friday after Housing Minister Collin Croal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves led an outreach at the Bartica Community Centre Ground.
Further, some 38 families who have qualified for the Steel and Cement Subsidy initiative received their vouchers to aid with the construction of their homes. The subsidy is the brainchild of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to provide support in the form of building materials for Guyanese seeking to construct their homes, whether on Government allocated or private lands.
Individuals were also given the opportunity to engage representatives from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Citizens Bank on mortgages and other services.
A number of senior officials from the agency’s Housing Administration, Planning and Settlement Development, Community Development and Projects Departments, as well as, the Conveyance and the Surveys Units were on the ground to assist Barticians with various issues affecting them.
Many were informed that the construction of turn-key homes was on the table for enhancing the Region Seven Housing Programme. The Ministry’s team held discussions with six contractors on the construction of housing units at Bartica, where they explored various designs for the housing units.
The Ministry is making a dent in the existing backlog met upon the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assuming office in 2020, although it continues to receive applications for house lots. An evaluation of the pending applications for Region Three in 2022 showed a figure of about 14,000, but as of last year, that number had been reduced to just over 13,000.
The housing sector would execute its work programme to the tune of $78 billion, with the Government well on its way to achieving its target of distributing 50,000 house lots within its first term in office. Water supply and distribution would also be extended to new communities. A total of $16.8 billion was spent last year on water and sanitisation, and $22.5 billion is budgeted for further advancements in this regard in 2024.(G12)
