700 house lots distributed in Region Three 

Some 700 house lots were allocated in Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) on Wednesday by the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The lots are for the low, moderate, middle and high-income brackets at new developments at Stewartville and Meten-Meer-Zorg.

Three months ago, a similar housing drive saw 1200 persons allocated house lots in the region. With the allocations on Wednesday, it takes the number of allocations for the year to almost 5,000. This will also further reduce the 14,000 backlog of applications for Region Three.

Currently, the first phase of infrastructure works has been completed in the new housing areas and the second phase will commence soon to allow allottees to access their lands.

Upgrading of existing housing schemes is also ongoing.

Ruth Williams, a seamstress was ecstatic to finally be allocated a plot of land to build her house.

“I am overwhelmed today for receiving my house lot allocation as a seamstress I will now have my permanent place to do my business because when you are renting and you have moved, you lose customers,” Williams told the News Room.

The woman said she applied for her land in 2008.

“I went and do my update in October and I was surprised to get a call to come here today,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, Guyana Defence Force officer 28-year-old Akeem Washington said “this is the best thing to ever happen to me right now” after receiving his house lot.

“I am feeling grateful to receive my house lot cause as a young professional you gonna need your house and roof over your head,” Washington said.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal said Region Three is enjoying the injection of major infrastructural projects.

This, he said includes continuing land acquisition and the construction of housing units for the low-income earners. Croal noted that 124 housing units will be ready by the end of January and construction on another 100 is expected to commence by the end of this year.

For works countrywide, by the end of this week tenders will be sent out for infrastructural works for 2023 and already, 21 housing areas across the country have been identified for infrastructural works

“For contractors, you have a lot to look forward to, there are lots of work available and so for good contractors who finish their work in a timely manner the reward will be more work,” Minister Croal said.

It is projected that by the end of 2022, a total of 20, 500 house lots would have been allocated.

“One can expect us to close the year with an allocation of about 20, 500. Next Tuesday will signal our final Dream Realised exercise and we will be closing 2022 with a bang, that is to achieve 20, 500 overall – and equally for the calendar year of 2022, our 10,000 target for this year,” Minister Croal revealed.

Meanwhile, the government’s steel and cement programme is moving apace smoothly. Already for Region Three, 28 applicants have been pre-approved and within the next two weeks, vouchers will be issued for them to uplift their cement or steel.