New houses for Bartica, works at Silica City and Palmyra among plans for 2023 – Croal

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, on Thursday, highlighted that the government will construct new houses in Bartica, Region Seven as part of big plans for the sector this year.

Croal, speaking during the 2023 Budget Debate, said that more than $50 billion will be spent on land and housing developments in new and exciting areas throughout this year- building on work done since 2020.

Those areas, he said, include Meten-Meer-Zorg, Non-Pariel, Mabaruma, Buxton/St. Joseph, Hope, Wakenaam, Charity, Chateau Margot, Sophia, Belvedere, Success, Amelia’s Ward and Number Seventy-Five Village.

Importantly, he also announced that other infrastructural works for new housing developments at the much-anticipated Silica City on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and at Palmyra, Region Six, will be pursued as the government seeks to give more people adequate housing in the coming years.

Silica City, in particular, has been a long-pursued project and last week, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the first 100 houses will be developed there this year.

Palmyra, on the other hand, is slated for much development as the government plans to develop a sport stadium, hotel and shopping centre there.

And all this, he said, follows much progress made in 2022.

“At the end of 2022, the ministry allocated over 20,500 house lots and established over 50 new housing areas,” Croal highlighted.

He also said that the ministry also upgraded and installed infrastructure in 43 existing housing areas and built 827 low, moderate and young professional houses with a further 527 in various stages of construction.

New laws and policies were also rolled out to provide greater relief to people.

Croal’s presentation at the debate followed that of Opposition Parliamentarian Annette Ferguson, who criticised the government for having no real housing plans and for only “selling dreams.”

Ferguson also accused the government of distributing house lots in areas that have not yet been developed.

Croal, however, said, “We have begun the infrastructure work to ensure that all the people who were allocated lots last year, will get this year.”