Infrastructure works advancing rapidly in 5 new Region 6 housing schemes – Croal

Housing development across five emerging communities in Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne) is moving into an accelerated phase, with infrastructure works advancing at Moleson Creek, Number 74 Village, Hogstye, Overwinning and Providence as the Government pushes to clear thousands of pending allocations and ensure allottees can access their lands within the shortest possible time. Housing Minister, Collin Croal said significant investments supported by both Government funding and financing from the Saudi Fund, are being injected to bridge longstanding gaps between land allocation and infrastructure delivery, while positioning the region for sustained residential expansion. Speaking on the sidelines of a Housing Ministry outreach in Region Six, Croal said the developments form part of a broader strategy to eliminate the longstanding backlog of pending allocations while simultaneously rolling out infrastructure in newly designated housing areas. He explained that the Ministry is working to ensure that persons who were allocated house lots in previous years can gain access within this year, noting that bridging the gap between allocation and infrastructure delivery remains a top priority. At Hogstye, the Minister disclosed that more than 300 house lots were allocated and infrastructure works are now 98 per cent complete. He committed that by the first week of March, allottees who were allocated lands in that scheme prior to this year will be able to access their lots. The near-completion of works there marks one of the most advanced new housing developments currently underway in the region. Over at Overwinning, Croal said infrastructure works had already commenced as part of a major allocation rolled out last year aimed at reducing the Region Six backlog. He acknowledged that in the past, lands were sometimes allocated before infrastructure was in place, creating long waiting periods for beneficiaries. The Ministry, he said, is now working to bridge that gap, ensuring that allocations and infrastructure development occur within the same timeframe so that beneficiaries can move toward construction sooner.

Moleson Creek is also poised for significant advancement, with infrastructure works to be financed through funding from the Saudi Fund. Croal revealed that projects for both Moleson Creek and Overwinning are expected to go out to tender within a month, signalling accelerated development in those communities. The investment is intended to fast-track access to serviced lots in the eastern corridor of the region.
Development at Number 74 Village and Providence are likewise progressing and according to the Minister infrastructure works represent a substantial financial commitment, explaining that on average it costs approximately $5 million in first-phase development to prepare a single lot. This includes clearing, road construction, drainage and other essential groundwork, before utilities such as electricity and water are installed. Final road networks are typically completed after occupancy begins. Croal emphasised the scale of the Government’s housing drive, pointing out that over the last five years more than $250 billion has been invested nationally in the housing programme. For 2026 alone, $159 billion has been budgeted for housing development, with the Minister expressing confidence that the allocation will be fully expended before year-end as projects accelerate. Region Six currently has an estimated backlog of approximately 8,000 pending applications. Croal reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to significantly reducing that figure before the end of the year and clearing the existing backlog prior to the September elections. While new applications continue to enter the system, he said priority is being given to addressing long-standing allocations and ensuring beneficiaries receive fully serviced lots rather than allocation numbers alone.
“We are committed to ensuring we are able to deliver,” the Minister said, underscoring that the focus remains on translating allocations into accessible, infrastructure-ready communities across Moleson Creek, Number 74, Hogstye, Overwinning and Providence.