Region 4 housing backlog to take longer to clear – Minister Benn

– says volume of applications, land access, availability slow progress

During her 2025 end-of-year address on the housing sector, Minister within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn acknowledged that while the Government is targeting the clearance of the housing application backlog, reducing applications in Region Four is expected to take longer due to the sheer volume of pending requests.
She explained that progress in the region is also dependent on access to, and the availability of, lands to meet current demand.
“However, while the target is to clear the backlog, reducing the applications in Region Four is anticipated to take longer due to their sheer number and is also dependent upon access to and availability of lands to meet current demand. It should be noted that the Ministry of Finance’s 2025 Mid-Year Report to the National Assembly recorded the allocation of 9970 residential lots and the distribution of 2052 certificates of title and transports during the first half of the year,” Benn said.
Housing Minister Collin Croal, in a separate address just one week ago, disclosed that his Ministry is working alongside other state agencies to acquire lands across the country to address the more than 78,000 pending house-lot applications. Croal noted that while over 53,000 lots have been allocated so far, thousands of applications remain in the system.
“We are continuously working to find land and to engage with our partners in terms of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC), NICIL, GuySuCo, and in Region Five’s case, for example, the MMA [/ADA (Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary Agriculture Development Authority)], to acquire additional lands to address these backlogs,” Croal said.
Referring to Region Four specifically, Minister Benn said thousands of applications are concentrated along the East Coast and East Bank Demerara corridors. She emphasised that improved administrative and digital systems, along with dedicated personnel, are being deployed to clear these bottlenecks.
“As we know, our populace is concentrated in this region, Demerara-Mahaica, which hosts our capital, Georgetown, the administrative and commercial hub of our country. The thousands of applications are concentrated along the East Coast and East Bank Demerara corridors and the highway. Improved administrative and digital systems and dedicated personnel are being deployed to clear these bottlenecks,” she explained.
Benn also gave credit to Minister Croal, highlighting his presentation on the Government’s housing initiatives, which detailed the latest developments in house construction, backlog reduction, improved access to services, support for single parents and youth, and works aimed at safer, cleaner, and well-lit communities.
“Minister Croal’s presentation to the nation reported on the ongoing plans and construction of new housing schemes and roads, the provision of subsidies for building and improving houses, support to single parents, youth, and hinterland communities, and works being undertaken for improved drainage and safe, clean communities,” Benn noted.

Greater Georgetown Urban Framework
Turning to community development and the Greater Georgetown Urban Framework, Benn revealed that, at the direction of President Dr Irfaan Ali, the Ministry has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of all community playgrounds across the country. Aerial images have been captured using drones, and ground-truthing will be conducted where necessary to assess drainage, fencing, and other amenities. Initial reports have already been received for Regions Two, Three, Four, and Five.
“Our Ministry has undertaken, upon the direction of His Excellency, an assessment of all community playgrounds across the country, inclusive of their status. Aerial images have been captured by drones, and ground-truthing will be undertaken as necessary to report on the drainage, fences, and other amenities. Thus far, initial reports have been received for Regions Two, Three, Four, and Five,” Benn said.
She added that the work programme and plans of the Ministry of Housing and its Central Housing and Planning Authority are aligned with national priorities and international commitments.