210 more homes under construction as Region 6 development expands

Another 210 houses are under construction at Palmyra, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), bringing the number of homes completed or being built in that section of the Government’s housing development to approximately 310.
The expansion comes as Housing Minister Collin Croal has announced that beneficiaries who have already received house lot allocations at Providence, Overwinning and Glasgow are expected to be shown their respective parcels of land before the end of 2026.

Croal provided the updates on Wednesday during an inspection of housing and infrastructure developments across the region, where he also addressed electricity and water supply concerns and outlined changes to the system used to identify allocated house lots.
At Palmyra, 100 houses have already been completed, while another 210 are under construction. Among those being built is a new batch of 100 three-bedroom bungalow-style houses, which the Minister said contractors are aiming to complete by February 2027.
He explained that construction would continue in phases as additional beneficiaries are identified and houses allocated.
Eighteen contractors, all from Region Six, are involved in constructing the latest 100 houses, which are priced at approximately $13 million each.
Croal also disclosed that young professional houses, a housing category being introduced in Berbice, are priced at $19.5 million.
The Minister said the Ministry is assessing demand for these houses, particularly the ability of prospective beneficiaries to afford them.
Additional two-bedroom houses are also being considered for Palmyra following demand for units similar to those previously constructed at Ordinance, Fortlands and Hampshire.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries who have already received house lot allocations at Providence, Overwinning and Glasgow could begin identifying their respective parcels of land in the coming weeks.
Responding to a question about when allottees at Providence would be shown their lands, Croal said the upcoming identification exercises would also cover Overwinning and Glasgow.
He disclosed that infrastructure works in some blocks are more than 90 per cent complete, with the Ministry preparing to commence identification exercises before the end of November.
He explained that beneficiaries would be contacted in batches to avoid confusion during the exercises.

Georeferencing
The Minister also reiterated the introduction of georeferencing to the house lot identification process, a measure intended to address disputes over the location and boundaries of allocated lands.
Croal acknowledged that some beneficiaries have previously returned to housing authorities months after being shown their lots, reporting difficulties identifying boundary markers or locating their properties.
Under the revised procedure, surveyors will use tablets to capture geographical coordinates and photographic evidence during identification exercises. A checklist will also document whether beneficiaries have been shown all four boundary poles, with any outstanding issues recorded in the system.
“So, I want to ensure that when somebody says that they have seen their lot from central housing, they must see a complete lot, and they will be signing to that,” the Minister explained.
The information will create a digital record that can be retrieved for future reference, particularly where disputes arise over the location of allocated lands.
Croal said the system would also assist beneficiaries who encounter difficulties when contractors or other persons subsequently question the location of their properties.

Growing water demand
At Palmyra, meanwhile, the expansion of residential development has brought renewed attention to the provision of essential services.
Croal acknowledged complaints from homeowners who have experienced difficulties accessing electricity, explaining that internal electrical works had been completed but the necessary connection to the national grid remained outstanding.
He indicated that Guyana Power and Light Incorporated was working to address the matter and advised persons allocated completed houses that they could use the required electrical certificates to apply for individual electricity connections.
Water supply is another concern as residential construction increases demand on existing infrastructure.
He explained that the development of new housing schemes, together with construction in established communities, has placed additional pressure on water supplies.
To address the growing demand, the Government is pursuing the drilling of a new well at Palmyra. Croal disclosed that tenders for the project, advertised through the Central Housing and Planning Authority, have closed and the procurement process is underway.
He indicated that drilling could commence within approximately one month.
Croal also pointed to the broader development planned for Palmyra, where the expansion of housing is taking place alongside commercial and other major infrastructure projects.
“As I gave the briefing earlier, Palmyra is going to be one of the communities to admire, one of the areas to admire, because you will have a complete experience in terms of being able to reside and in terms of access to commercial activities, access to malls, et cetera,” he said.