As of October of this year, 202 new housing units have been built by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), while a further 52 which are still under construction are expected to be completed this month.
An example of a housing unit
This is according to Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valarie Patterson-Yearwood, in defending her Government’s budget in the National Assembly on Monday.
Giving a breakdown of the locations, the Minister said 149 units were completed in Perseverance in Region Four. Included in this number are 76 two-bedroom duplexes and 42 elevated units. In addition, 17 units were built at the housing scheme at Experiment in Region Five. Construction was also completed in Region Three.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the housing scheme at Providence, East Bank Demerara that was dubbed the Re-migrants Scheme and initiated under the previous Government had 400 house lots up for grabs. According to Patterson, 331 house lots have since been allocated.
According to the Minister, monies generated by these sales will be used to provide infrastructural upgrades. She also provided a breakdown of what the Government has been doing to upgrade infrastructure across Guyana.
“As of October 31, new infrastructural development works were completed in Lust-en-Rust, Zeelugt, and Zeeburg in Region Three; Sections B and D, Non Pareil, La Penitence, Perseverance, Covent Garden and Farm; Phase Two in Region Four, Amelia’s Ward in Region 10, while works are ongoing in Providence, Peter’s Hall and Little and Great Diamond,” she explained
“Upgrading of road works and other infrastructural works were completed in a number of areas. Parfaite Harmonie, Westminster and Tuschen, Perseverance, Phase Two of Herstelling, Block D, Bath; Number 76 village and Ordinance (Fort lands) in Region Six; Amelia’s Ward phase One, B and Two.”
Plans for 2019
Moving on to 2019, Patterson-Yearwood revealed that Government has plans to commission a study into squatting. According to Patterson, a total of 211 regularised squatter lots were distributed. However, she revealed that the former squatters have been slow to pay for the lots.
“Seventy-four informal settlers from the Lamaha reserve will be relocated to Cummings Lodge in the new year. The buildings were numbered, household profiles completed, and an inventory is to be completed by the end of this year,” sh said,
“It is widely known that persons in the lower income bracket represent the largest number of families in need of housing, and they are also the group that has the most challenges to acquire decent, affordable housing. We will be addressing this situation frontally,” she declared.
According to Patterson-Yearwood, CHPA has designed several low-income housing units that will go on display during an exhibition in 2019. She projected that 350 units would be distributed next year, and revealed that the cost of these units will range from $4 million.
“The Government has commenced discussions with our development partners to secure more financing to undertake new housing development. Once successful, funds will be provided to upgrade infrastructure in all CHPA schemes, the construction of houses in all regions,” she said.
“In Region One, Mabaruma is earmarked for significant upgrade. Cocorite Hill Housing Scheme will benefit from road upgrade and the construction of a community facility. In Region Two, roads will be upgraded at Anna Regina, Onderneeming and Charity, and in Region Eight at Mahdia.” she added.
The Parliamentary Opposition has been very critical of the coalition Government’s slow pace of housing drive and distribution of lots. Former Housing Minister and Opposition frontbencher Irfaan Ali has pointed out that under his tenure (which began in 2009) approximately 100,000 house lots were distributed, while others were regularised.
