Housing Ministry looking to develop 5,000 house lots at Wales

…to address region’s application backlog

In order to address the current backlog of house lot applications in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), the Housing Ministry is mulling the development of some 5,000 house lots at Wales, West Bank Demerara.
Region Three is poised for significant progress in housing and water development in 2024. During community meetings at Greenwich Park, Philadelphia, and Vergenoegen, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal spoke to residents about some of Government’s planned initiatives.
Over 5,600 house lots have been allocated in Region Three from 2020 to 2023, and $42.2 billion has been spent on infrastructural works there. As Minister Croal announced new plans to address the backlog, it has been explained that efforts to provide ownership documents for regularised areas would continue, with several families at Greenwich Park (North) having their agreements of sale processed in about two weeks’ time.
In terms of water supply expansion, 10 wells are being drilled on the coastland, three of which are in Region Three; and about $4 billion is currently being expended to deliver treated water, including the $847 million Parika Water Treatment Plant, which is about 45 percent completed, along with the Wales and La Parfaite Harmonie Treatment Plants.

The Minister has said that, by the end of 2024, the entire West Coast of Demerara would be receiving treated water; and measures are also in place to cater to Wakenaam and Leguan.
Ongoing infrastructural projects such as the new Demerara River Crossing and the Schoonord to Crane Four-Lane Highway were discussed, along with 2024 Budget initiatives for education, health, pensioners, and persons with disabilities.
The economic future of the West Bank Demerara Corridor, once driven by the sugar industry, is slated to be transformed by the Wales Development Zone (WDZ), which is expected to be one of the largest industrial zones in the Caribbean.
In its term in office thus far, Government has delivered over 6,000 house lots to applicants in Region Three. From August 2020 to the end of 2021, some 2182 lots have been allotted in the region, and persons are already accessing their new plots.
The Ministry is making a dent in the existing backlog it met upon assuming office in 2020, although it continues to receive applications for house lots. An evaluation of the pending applications for Region Three in 2022 stood at about 14,000; but as of last year, that number had been reduced to just over 13,000.
The Housing Sector would execute its work programme to the tune of $78 billion, with the Government well on its way to achieving its target of distributing 50,000 house lots within its first term in office. Water supply and distribution would also be extended to new communities. A total of $16.8 billion was spent last year on water and sanitisation, and $22.5 billion is budgeted for further advancements in this regard in 2024. (G12)