Residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were assured of expanded housing opportunities, improved infrastructure and accelerated land ownership processes as the Housing Ministry rolled out a comprehensive update during a community engagement on Friday at the Housing Compound in Anna Regina. Addressing residents, Housing Minister Collin Croal acknowledged that some communities in Essequibo had not benefitted fully under the Ministry’s aggressive housing drive in recent years but said this gap is now being corrected through targeted interventions led by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
He announced that new housing construction initiatives will commence at Onderneeming Phase Four, where three-bedroom moderate-income homes will be built. At the same time, low-income housing construction is already underway in the Hoff Van Arich area, including newly developed sections, and streams and supporting infrastructure are being established. According to the Minister, these initiatives will ensure that residents of Essequibo and surrounding communities can now access the full suite of services offered by the Housing Ministry.
The Minister also highlighted significant progress in improving access to housing finance, noting that increased employment in structured and professional sectors in the region has created new opportunities for home ownership. He explained that longstanding barriers – particularly the requirement for a five per cent deposit – have been eased through initiatives by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, implemented in collaboration with commercial banks. Mortgage lending rates have been reduced, allowing even part-time workers to pre-qualify for low-income mortgages.
“We have already announced and committed that the income threshold will be increased to $50,000, expanding access even further. This means that persons at different levels of the workforce now have an opportunity for earlier home ownership, something that was unimaginable in the past,” the Minister said.
He emphasised that the Government’s approach extends beyond the allocation of house lots, with the Ministry committed to guiding beneficiaries throughout the process to ensure sustainable ownership for families and future generations.
Delays linked to drainage, irrigation challenges
As part of efforts to clear long-standing backlogs, the Minister said steel and cement are being distributed, while allocations continue in areas such as Charity and St Joseph. Development has now advanced into Onderneeming Phase Five, while infrastructure works in the newly opened Hoff Van Arich housing area are approximately 35 per cent complete. He assured residents that persons allocated lands there will be able to access their plots and move toward ownership within the 2026 calendar year. Addressing concerns regarding access to lands in St Joseph and Boniface, the Minister clarified that delays were linked to drainage and irrigation challenges rather than housing infrastructure. He disclosed that two projects are currently being implemented through the Drainage and Irrigation Authority, including the construction of 0.7 kilometres of drainage channels and a discharge structure valued at $44 million, as well as the installation of a 188-cusec mobile pump to address irrigation needs. These interventions are expected to permanently resolve flooding issues by the end of April.
