60 Laing Avenue residents receive $15M in home improvement subsidy

In adherence to a commitment made several months ago, the Housing and Water Ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) disbursed $250,000 each in home improvement subsidies to 60 residents of Laing Avenue on Monday.
In addition to the vouchers intended for repairs, modifications, and other house-related works, the residents were provided an extra $100,000 to assist with labour costs.

This group represents the initial beneficiaries of the subsidy, aligning with a commitment declared by Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during his visit to Laing Avenue last year.
Following interactions with the residents, the Vice President announced a $50 million home improvement subsidy program to address housing issues in the area. The vouchers issued can be redeemed at Gafoors, National Hardware, and Toolsie Persaud Limited.
The handover ceremony took place at the CH&PA sub-office on Camp Street, Georgetown, in a straightforward event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sherwyn Greaves, Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, emphasised that more residents from Laing Avenue are currently in the process of receiving the subsidy.
“We want to encourage those persons to hurry up and get your documents to us. We have the money to spend and we want to ensure that the people who are supposed to benefit, benefit…you the people of Laing Avenue”, he said.
Greaves urged those individuals to expedite the submission of their documents, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enhancing the lives of citizens in Laing Avenue through this initiative.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Housing and Water in Guyana, Collin Croal, has stated that the housing programs aim to ensure citizens can live comfortably.
The government is providing financial assistance, with the first 60 vouchers totalling $15 million, for residents to conduct necessary repairs on their homes.
“Our programme is geared towards ensuring that different levels of our society can be able to be part of the developmental process,” he underscored.
Croal emphasized that these initiatives are designed to address various societal levels and eliminate the need for squatting. Around 200 families are expected to benefit from this initiative.
The government has committed to delivering 50,000 house lots by 2025, with 30,000 already allocated.
Minister Croal mentioned that the remaining 20,000 will be assigned in the next two years, emphasizing the importance of a systematic approach to address housing needs and discourage squatting.
Residents, like Jermone Basdeo and Norma Lashley, express gratitude for the government’s assistance in using subsidies for home repairs. Basdeo plans to fix his roof, while Lashley highlights financial constraints for essential repairs. To qualify for the subsidy, residents had to provide proof of identification and home ownership.