What stands out most in Budget 2026 is the attention to quality of life

Dear Editor,
Since 2020, housing has moved from being a distant dream for many Guyanese families to a tangible, reachable reality. The allocations and measures outlined in Budget 2026 are not sudden promises but the continuation of a deliberate, people-first housing policy that has steadily expanded over the last six years.
An allocation of $159.1 billion for housing in 2026 alone signals how central shelter and home ownership have become to national development. The Government’s target of constructing 40,000 new homes over the next five years represents one of the most ambitious housing drives in Guyana’s history. These are not abstract numbers. They translate into roofs over heads, stability for families, and dignity for working people across income groups.
When viewed from 2020 to 2026, the growth of the housing sector is clear across every dimension. The Central Housing and Planning Authority has moved beyond simply distributing house lots to accelerating turnkey home construction, responding directly to what citizens have consistently asked for: completed, liveable homes. Tens of thousands of house lots have been allocated since 2020, while the issuance of thousands of certificates of title has transformed families into legal landowners, giving them security, collateral, and peace of mind.
Housing infrastructure has expanded just as significantly. Roads, drainage, water, and electricity work in communities such as Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Great Diamond, Amelia’s Ward, Felicity, and others reflect a shift away from poorly planned schemes of the past. These investments recognise that a home is more than walls; it is the environment around it.
Equally important has been the growth in housing finance access. In 2020, the low-income mortgage ceiling stood at $8 million. It was raised to $20 million during the last term, and Budget 2026 takes it further to $30 million. This is not a symbolic increase; it directly responds to rising construction costs and allows ordinary wage earners a realistic chance at owning a home. Extending this ceiling to insurance companies further deepens access and competition, putting borrowers, not institutions, at the centre.
The housing improvement subsidies also tell a powerful story. Over the years, thousands of families have benefited from steel and cement assistance and direct home construction. The $7.5 billion allocated in 2026 continues this support, helping families upgrade, expand, and strengthen their homes while supporting local building material industries and jobs.
What stands out most in Budget 2026 is the attention to quality of life. The $8 billion allocated for community enhancement, internal concrete roads, recreational facilities, green spaces, street lighting, and the relocation of disruptive businesses acknowledges that safe, liveable communities are just as important as the houses themselves. This is a recognition long overdue.

From 2020 to 2026, housing policy has evolved from backlog management to comprehensive community building. It reflects a Government that understands that development must be measured by how people live, not just by economic statistics. As Guyana continues to grow rapidly, especially with increased economic activity along the coast, this sustained housing expansion ensures that ordinary citizens are not left behind.
As we welcome these bold commitments, it is also important that the Government continue to honour its promises, remain aligned with its manifesto, and ensure that implementation matches ambition. If this people-centred approach is maintained, housing will remain one of the clearest examples of how development can truly put Guyanese families first.

Yours sincerely,
Alvin Hamilton