Govt to digitise land allocation, road systems

Minister within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn has announced that the Government is set to digitise land allocation and road systems while also advancing the construction of 200 homes under the Yarrowkabra Homestead Programme. As part of the Government’s push to promote sustainable community development through the upgrading of roads, drainage, and infrastructure, Minister Benn on Wednesday said the digitisation initiative is aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.

“The enhancement of community connectivity and infrastructure: where the Ministry will construct highways and connect roads, integrate housing and transport planning and adopt and apply resilient infrastructure methodologies. We will enable security of tenure and access to services for these settlers and provide support for their relocation, while strengthening land administration and allocation. Through this, we will ensure fair and objective issuance of house lots, digitise land administration and allocation systems, and reduce the processing time for these applications by 75 per cent by 2030,” she said. Only recently Housing Minister Collin Croal had disclosed that his Ministry is working along with other state agencies to acquire lands for new housing developments across the country to fulfil the more than 78,000-application backlog for house lots.
In a recent address on the Government’s five-year plan for the housing sector, Croal explained that while they were able to allocate over 53,000, there are still in excess of 78,000 pending applications in the system. To further strengthen governance, Benn noted that institutional capacity will be enhanced through improved research, monitoring and evaluation and upgraded reporting systems.
She added that continued support will be provided to local democratic organs to ensure the effective implementation of the Single Window System. “Institutional capacity and governance will also be enhanced through research, monitoring and evaluation, improved reporting, and continued support to local democratic organs for the implementation of the Single Window System, strengthening internal governance systems through the One Guyana Portal, and fostering greater innovation and service excellence,” the Minister stated.
Benn also highlighted that new projects and innovations under the Ministry include the Yarrowkabra Homestead Programme, which specifically targets vulnerable single mothers and women-led households. She explained that the first phase of the programme focuses on the construction of 200 modern prefabricated homes, incorporating locally sourced, sustainably harvested timber along with other construction materials. The Minister further disclosed that 25 homes have already been completed, with an additional 50 units currently under construction.
She noted that new projects and innovations in the housing sector under the Ministry include the Yarrowkabra Homestead Programme, commonly referred to as the Homestead Project. “It is an economic empowerment housing initiative integrated with agribusiness and was developed as part of His Excellency President Ali’s 2025 Development Agenda. Every beneficiary will cultivate high-valued crops to supplement their income and to repay their mortgage secured for the homestead. To date, the first 25 units are completed, with an additional 50 currently under construction.” According to the Minister, the project specifically targets vulnerable single mothers and women-led households and is designed to assist these families in improving their socioeconomic status from poverty to at least the middle-income category.
She explained that the first phase of the model initiative focuses on the construction of 200 modern prefabricated homes, incorporating locally sourced, sustainably harvested timber along with other construction materials.
“Each home will be coupled with a 20 by 40 shade house in the backyard,” Benn added.