LEN launches low-income housing project in Linden 

– Commissions first model home

The Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has launched the Region 10 Low Income Housing Project with the commissioning of its first model home at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie on Thursday.
The home, which costs approximately $3.5 million, is the first of its kind in the bauxite mining community to be constructed with bauxite overburden as one of its main constituent materials. The blocks are made from that material, which is normally considered a waste product.
LEN is expected to collaborate with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and banking institutions to provide more of this type of home to low income earners.
The home was commissioned with the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon during a simple ceremony at which Linden Mayor Waneka Arindell said it was a privilege to see the level of creativity coming out of Linden and Region 10.
“With the Government’s sustainable development cities and towns, this is one of the things and ideas to have this type of work done… I want to encourage LEN to continue to support these innovations,” Mayor Arindell noted, as she urged banks to continue assisting young people with housing loans.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, Technical Assistant to that Minister, Remington Nelson, said it is common knowledge that Guyana as a whole, and Linden in particular, has a huge housing deficit, and the people that are mostly affected are those in the lower income bracket, including public servants.
She further stated that many young people cannot even qualify to obtain loans at commercial banks.
“It is a problem for which we need a solution… Not only is this LEN’s low income housing project a welcome contribution to Government’s efforts to provide affordable housing, it also illustrates that the solutions we seek may be found where we least expect — right in our house, so to speak,” he said.
Quoting from the minister’s speech, Nelson said the project demonstrates innovation, imagination, ingenuity and initiative. He said the project has also provided jobs, will provide low income homes, and is useful in finding housing solutions.
“We are transforming useless bauxite overburden into valuable building blocks to provide homes for families at a reduced cost…the LEN low income housing project shows initiative at work…let this project stand as a beacon of inspiration as to what can be accomplished when, instead of looking to someone else to solve your problem, you can ask yourself, ‘What do I have in my possession?’ “, Nelson posited.
LEN Chairman, Orin Gordon, in his address, also highlighted the project’s ingenuity, and noted that what is considered waste product is now being used to construct homes.
He said 100 percent of the materials were derived from within, and bought from suppliers and contractors in, Region 10. The spanking new home has as its main features 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and sitting room.