Lethem Housing Support Programme: 18 families receive keys to new 2-bedroom homes

– 85 identified house lots at Poke Bridge Housing Scheme

Eighteen families from the border town of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Saturday received the keys to their homes, under the Lethem Housing Support Programme.
The beneficiaries received their keys following a simple ceremony, which was held in the compound of the Regional Housing Office.
On the occasion, the Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal was joined by the Mayor of Lethem, John Macedo; Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock; Regional Executive Officer, Carl Singh, and other regional representatives.
Minister Croal, in his address to the beneficiaries, noted his government’s commitment to ensuring affordable houses for all Guyanese.
He added that these and other investments in the region should be seen as investments in improving the quality of life for hinterland families. Additionally, reference was also made to the spin-off benefits these investments bring to the region.

“These investments also aid in building and strengthening village economies. We use labour from the communities and villages such as Kwatamang, Shulinab, Shea, Moco Moco, St Ignatius, and Surama to provide the clay bricks and timber. ”
The combined total of the investment made on the homes that were handed over stands at $53 million. Each home is valued at approximately $3 million, of which $ 1 million in support in the form of clay bricks and timber was given by the Ministry and $2 million through a partnership with financial institutions.
The units measure 550 square ft. and feature two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a lavatory area.
Further, the regional representatives all lauded the initiative, noting their satisfaction at seeing the initiative to this final stage.

Additionally, as the programme continues, contracts have been signed for another 40 housing units to be constructed in the Tract CHPA Housing Scheme.
Meanwhile, 85 families were also given the green light to commence construction of their homes after they were given access to their respective lots in the Tract CHPA (Poke Bridge) housing scheme in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The families were invited on Saturday to participate in a lot identification exercise and were joined by Housing and Water Minister Croal.
The families were all shown their boundaries and allowed to plant name posts, signalling ownership. The activity forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing drive to increase occupancy rates in housing schemes across the country.
Surveyors from the Agency, at the beginning of the year, started an aggressive Lot Identification exercise, spanning Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

In May of last year, a $507 million contract was signed for ongoing infrastructure works in the area. Upon completion, approximately 400 individuals will gain access to their land.
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.