$50B in contracts to be signed for new housing works, development

Later this week, the Housing Ministry will be embarking on $50 billion works in several areas and schemes across the country, for which contracts will be signed.
Housing Minister Collin Croal informed on Tuesday that the signing of contracts will be facilitated on Friday, allowing for these sums to be injected into housing development.
The Minister announced, “On Friday, part of what you will see taking place is for the signing of contracts for new works, new development, new areas that we have already allocated. So, you have over $50 billion for which we are signing contracts on Friday. That tells you the magnitude of what will take place in this sector.”
The Minister shared that with these constructed homes, Guyanese are presented with options before they select one. It is part of efforts to ensure affordable housing solutions for all stakeholders.
“Part of what we do is to provide options. Nobody is putting a barrel to anyone’s throat to say you have to take that particular house. There is a particular criterion by which you have to be able to prequalify and similarly, the type of house.”
The Ministry will be embarking on construction in housing schemes and outside of such areas. For this, expressions of interest for the construction have already been dispatched. Later this year, the Ministry is also planning its first Dream Realised initiative for 2023.
“There are a lot of things taking place and we will get to you. We know you request our service but please have patience. Please utilise the various systems that are there, the various departments that are placed to serve you and we will certainly be able to get you. You have a Government that is working overtime,” the Minister said as he responded to calls from citizens.
The Housing and Water Ministry had wrapped up 2022 with the success of distributing more than its targeted 10,000 house lots for the year. With a plan of allocating 50,000 house lots in its five-year term in office, this translates to 10,000 per year.
Since Government took office in 2020, the Ministry has started the process of establishing about 16 new housing areas across Regions Three, Four, Five and Six. For just the East Coast, where seven of these schemes are being developed, some $10 billion has already been expended for first phase infrastructural works. (G12)