BUDGET 2023: Over $54B to develop new, upgrade existing housing development

A total of $54.5 billion has been set aside in the 2023 national budget for housing development in new and existing areas, including the construction of roads, drains and bridges, and the installation of utilities to meet housing demands.

This is according to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh who unveiled the annual fiscal plan in the National Assembly on Monday.

Areas to benefit include Mabaruma, Oronoque, Buxton/St. Joseph, Stewartville, Wakenaam, Block A & B Hope, Success, Balthyock and No. 75 Village.

The government will also undertake infrastructure works in regularised areas, such as, Charity, Tuschen, Chateau Margot, Block SS Sophia, Belvedere and Amelia’s Ward.

Additionally, more lands will be acquired for new housing areas across the country.

“Government is committed to ensuring that every Guyanese family would realise their aspirations of becoming a homeowner. In pursuit of this, we are opening up new lands, putting in place the requisite infrastructure, accelerating the allocation process, supporting those who require prebuilt homes, and providing easy access to finance,” Dr,. Singh said.

Meanwhile, in water sanitisation, the government expended $9.9 billion in 2022 and has allocated $17.7 billion in Budget 2023 to further improve the water sector.

Additionally, in 2023, $1.4 billion will be spent on the further upgrade and extension of water supply systems and construction of wells in several hinterland communities of Regions 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.

“Government targets an increase in treated water coverage for the coastland from 52 percent currently, to 90 percent by 2025.

With interventions in 2022, more interventions will be made in 2023 to improve water quality for more than 250,000 residents with an allocation of $13 billion.

This year, $1.9 billion is budgeted to support infrastructural development, the operation of existing and additional landfill sites, and for the solid waste clean-up programme. More specifically, provision is made for: the access road and bridge at the Blairmont Waste Management Facility; the closure of dump sites in Charity, Lima and D’Edward; further upgrades, construction of storm water ponds and a landfill gas management system at Haags Bosch; and, upgrades to landfill sites at Kildonan, Bon Success and Kara Kara.