500 Essequibo residents gain home ownership through ‘Dream Realised’ housing

– over 20 persons benefitted from steel and cement subsidy

More than 500 residents of Region Two are now one step closer to home ownership, following the Ministry of Housing and Water’s “Dream Realised” event, held over two days at the Ministry’s Regional office in Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
The initiative, which concluded on Saturday, saw the allocation of house lots, the processing of ownership documents, and discussions on housing regularisation and relocation.
In addition to these allocations, twenty-two families from villages across the Essequibo Coast received vouchers for cement and steel, to support the construction of their new homes and, in some cases, to facilitate extensions.
The event primarily benefited allottees of the Onderneeming Housing Scheme-Phase IV, where approximately 500 house lots were allocated under the low, moderate, and middle-income categories.

Speaking to residents at the housing drive, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, stated that, the allocation is part of the Government’s commitment to reducing the backlog of housing applications and improving access to land ownership in the region.
On the first day of the event, more than 150 allottees in the Onderneeming Housing Scheme successfully completed the processing of their Agreements of Sale, while nearly the same number signed for their Certificate of Title.
Minister Croal assured residents that those who signed for their titles, will receive them before the end of the year, as mandated by President Dr Irfaan Ali.
He noted that the Government has already invested billions into the development of two major housing schemes in Region Two, with approximately $700 million spent on infrastructure works in the Onderneeming area alone.
The Ministry has also acquired additional land from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to facilitate new housing development in the region.
“Persons who signed for their Titles will receive them before the year end. This is a commitment by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali, and the Government has invested billions of dollars for major infrastructural development in Onderneeming,” he mentioned.

Minister Croal also emphasised that all lands allocated during the event will be accessible before the end of the year, with beneficiaries given the opportunity to sign their Agreements of Sale and begin their home ownership journey.
He further highlighted that the Government remains committed to housing development under the One Guyana vision, and has been making strategic investments in the sector.
Also present at the occasion was Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues who outlined the Government’s ongoing efforts to make home ownership more affordable and accessible. She highlighted key policy initiatives, including negotiations with commercial banks that led to reduced interest rates over the last four years.
She also pointed to the introduction of programmes such as the steel and cement subsidy, which assist individuals in beginning the construction of their homes, as well as the increase in the mortgage interest relief ceiling to $30 million.
“If you get a mortgage from the bank, all of the interest you pay on that mortgage can be claimed back at the end of the year from the GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) as tax-deductible,” she explained, emphasising the Government’s deliberate policies to support families in acquiring homes.

Rodrigues further stated that the Government remains committed to delivering real results beyond its manifesto promises. She revealed that the housing programme aims to allocate approximately 25,000 new house lots this year as part of its five-year target of 50,000 allocations.
“We have done a careful examination of the demand in all ten regions and have developed a plan, led by His Excellency, to comprehensively address the housing backlog in nine of the ten administrative regions. Residents in these regions can expect their house lots in the coming year,” she said.
For Region Two, the Minister confirmed that allocations during the ‘Dream Realised’ event included lands at Onderneeming, Track A, and two new areas, Lots 7 and 8.
Approximately 200 beneficiaries were also invited to sign their Agreements of Sale and Certificates of Title.
“This new area is an excellent location because it is already surrounded by developed housing schemes,” Minister Rodrigues added, congratulating allottees on this journey.
Beyond land allocations, the event also featured key discussions on housing infrastructure and water service expansion.
Residents were briefed on the upcoming commissioning of a new water treatment plant in Onderneeming, which is expected to improve access to potable water for new and existing residents.
Additionally, new service connections for the recently allocated house lots will commence in the coming weeks.
Beneficiaries of the steel and cement subsidy, as well as house lot allocations, have expressed their gratitude to the Government, particularly the Ministry of Housing and Water, for the initiative.
Many acknowledged that the assistance will significantly ease their financial burden and accelerate their journey toward home ownership.
Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to engage with representatives from commercial banks and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to discuss financing options and utility services for their new homes.
Also present at the distribution exercise were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Water, Bishram Kuppen; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Denise King-Tudor; the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Madanlall Ramraj; Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva; and Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit.