Large-scale construction of low-income houses countrywide – Finance Minister

Throughout this month, the Government has either been handing out low-income houses to struggling families, or developing housing areas; and according to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, the latter will be a countrywide activity.
During a Christmas Day ceremony in which a family with six children received a new house that was built within a week, the Finance Minister spoke of Government’s housing policy. According to the Finance Minister, large-scale construction of low-income housing areas would be a countrywide initiative.
“We just did another similar ceremony, and we witnessed there a large housing area that is being developed: beautiful homes that would be delivered to several Guyanese families, and this is happening throughout the country,” the Minister said.
Dr. Singh also referenced the ceremony, made possible by the President Ali-led Men on a Mission (MOM) initiative. According to the Finance Minister, this is representative of how much the Government cares about its people…as well as the President’s experience as a Housing Minister.
“Today’s ceremony is yet another step in this journey, but it’s a significant step in the journey because it represents a number of things, including the caring and compassionate nature of President Ali’s Government and the caring and compassionate nature that characterises his Presidency. We’ve seen, in a number of instances, Guyanese families fall in difficult circumstances and the President instructs immediately that help and support be provided to them,” Dr Singh has said.
It was announced on Tuesday that construction has been completed on 100 two-bedroom, low-income houses at Hampshire/Williamsburg in East Berbice. Similar houses are also being constructed at Ordnance Fort Lands in Region Six.
Government, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), distributed almost 2000 house lots during the first six months of the year, and distribution of a further 8000 house lots has been projected by this year end.
This is according to the 2022 Mid-Year Report of the Ministry of Finance, which states that in the first half of the year, 1843 house lots were distributed. This means that since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) entered office in 2020, some 11,680 house lots have been allocated.
“In the first half of 2022, Government expended $8.1 billion of the $12.4 billion allocated to further develop the housing sector. It is expected that a further 8000 lots will be distributed by the end of the year. A total of 449 land titles and transports were issued in the first half of 2022, and an additional 5600 are scheduled for the second half of the year, bringing the projected total to 6049, exceeding the 6000 land titles and transports targeted for issue in 2022,” the report stated.
It has been explained that of the $11 billion allocated to continue infrastructural works in CH&PA housing areas, the sum of $7.4 billion was spent during the review period. To this end, infrastructural works are ongoing in housing areas in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.
“Approximately 10 kilometres of roads were upgraded in existing housing areas at Uitvlugt, Belle West, La Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling, Ordnance Fortlands, Bath, Balthyock, Good Hope, Mon Repos; Section D, Non Pareil; Tuschen and Onderneeming. Additionally, 750 LED streetlamps were installed across the country during the first half of the year. The installation of electricity and distribution networks were completed at 12 housing areas in Regions Three, Four and Six, with similar works in 14 new housing areas slated for the second half of the year,” the Mid-Year Report also said.
Work has also been completed on 25 core homes at La Parfaite Harmonie in the first half of the year, while another 25 are slated for construction by the end of the year. In the Sophia Housing Area, 25 core homes are currently being constructed, while construction of a further 25 is expected to commence by year end. (G3)