House lot applications prior to 2020 will take priority – VP Jagdeo

Persons who tendered their house lot applications after the year 2019 will not receive their parcels of land anytime soon, as the Government works on processing older applications in their priority list.
This was the position taken by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during his Thursday press conference, outlining that it is illegal to fast-track the process by paying officials at the Housing Ministry. Currently, if a person applied in 2020 and after, they do not fall within the criteria to benefit now.
“If you have applied in 2020, 2021, or 2022, don’t come to the Ministry. You’re not going to get it now. If you want to pay anyone, it would be illegal for them to do that and to say that they can help you if you only applied recently. We work with a system, even the people who applied under APNU. We didn’t discriminate because if you applied [during that time], you’re still eligible. We work with, based on the dates of application,” Jagdeo divulged.

These comments were made in light of recent allegations of corrupt practices at the Housing Ministry, whereby several employees were implicated in social media posts, reportedly that they collected monies to accelerate the house lot approval process.
The VP encouraged persons with such information to contact the Police so that the matter could be investigated.
“Any information people have about scammers there, you should just go and report it to the Police. Don’t even go to the Ministry. Carry it to the Police…We will investigate it because we have a huge task there. People can get a house lot immediately if they had made an application before the year 2019.”
This week, the Housing Ministry said it has been brought to management’s attention that a number of allegations are circulating on social media about corrupt activities by certain employees in relation to housing matters. As such, anyone with solid evidence of such corrupt activities is being encouraged to come forward to report the same immediately to the Guyana Police Force, the subject Ministers, or the Permanent Secretary.
That press release has unequivocally stated that the Ministry of Housing and Water will not condone any form of unethical behaviour or corruption. The release states, “Any employee who is found to be engaging in corrupt transactions will face serious disciplinary action and also the full force of the law, where appropriate.”
Further, in response to the allegations made, the Ministry has intensified monitoring of the activities in the areas highlighted, in order to ensure that all procedures are strictly followed.
Members of the public are also reminded that all applications for house lots are processed directly at the Ministry and its Regional Offices, and by employees so authorised.
“The Ministry does not have any middlemen or external agents who are authorised to conduct business on its behalf. The Ministry of Housing and Water remains committed to its mission to empower citizens through our housing programmes,” the release also added.
It was reported in September that a total of 25,996 house lots had been allocated up to that time since the Government took office, with a significant portion – 14,054 – being granted to young individuals between the ages of 21 and 35.
There are approximately 57,000 pending house lot applications. However, to address this and provide lots and housing units to thousands of people, a substantial $170 billion is required, said President Irfaan Ali a few months ago. Another $400 billion would be needed to develop about 200 kilometres of roadways needed for access to the new housing areas being developed in the immediate to medium terms.
This is in keeping with its manifesto; the PPP/C Government is committed to delivering 50,000 house lots to Guyanese within its first term in office.