6300 house lots distributed so far in 2024 – Croal

In line with its manifesto commitment to deliver 50,000 house lots by 2025, the government has allocated 6,300 lots this year, with a focus on Wales, Non-Pareil, and La Bonne Intention (LBI) developments. Housing Minister Collin Croal confirmed that 36,000 house lots have been allocated since 2020, and efforts are underway to hit 40,000 by year-end. Significant allocations have benefitted low and moderate-income earners.
Areas with the highest land allocation includes Wales Phase Two housing development in Region Three which have benefitted from over 2300 lots this year and Non-Pareil and LBI Phases Three and Four along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) that got roughly 1000 lots.
Overall, the Government has allocated 36,000 house lots since assuming office in August 2020. Additionally, over 1,065 land titles and transports were also distributed in the first half of the year.
In an exclusive interview with this publication on Wednesday, Croal revealed that his ministry is working assiduously to ensure that this number increases to 40,000 by the end of 2024.
These lots he said are being distributed to persons who applied for land prior to 2019.
“We are hoping to do at least 10,000 this year, which will mean that before the year is finished, we want to close off with a 40,000 allocation for four-and-a-half-year period or close to four-and-a-half-year period”.
“As a government, we are happy that there are a number of things that we are satisfying. When we help with homeownership, it’s also about ensuring that people are able to have a better quality of life. The environment in which they live, the environment for which their children will be able to grow and to be able to occupy and to reside. So, we’ve been pushing communities in terms of wholesome so that you have a lifestyle for people that are growing at the same time as our country is improving,” Croal said.
According to Housing and Water Ministry’s half year report which was recently published, more than 45.5 per cent of the 6300 house lots that were allocated were to low-income earners.
Meanwhile, moderate-income earners received 29.7 per cent of the distributed house lots, 11.4 per cent went to middle-income earners and 11.3 per cent to young professionals.
Additionally, around two per cent of the lots distributed were for industrial, commercial and religious purposes.
Croal explained that when government took office in 2020, there were 70,000 house lot application in the system, however, noted that the administration has done a good job with clearing the backlog.
“It’s a lot of investment. In fact, we spent over $240 billion since we’ve gotten into office. So, when you take that into consideration, it’s a lot of investment and work that has happened. So, the work here too has increased tremendously. So, you know, we do ask for persons’ patience because as I said at an activity last Friday, it’s not just about allocating. When the staff finish allocating, they have to do a number of other things because we have to work towards ensuring to be able to sign their agreements of sales, to be able to sign the process, their title, and to ensure that they have ownership. Ownership is equally important. That signals that you have that collateral that you can use to get a mortgage, to invest whatever means you would like, even for building your own home,” he added.
The sum of $78 billion was allocated for the housing sector in the 2024 National Budget to advance infrastructural development works in new and existing housing areas. (G1)