Gov’t to build 2,000 housing units in Reg. 3 by next year – President Ali

Responding to the need for housing, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday revealed that his government plans to build a total of 2,000 low-income housing units in communities across Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) by the end of 2024.

Dr. Ali was at the time addressing residents at Uitvlugt and surrounding areas during a housing drive organised by the Ministry of Housing and Water.

Some 32 families are set to immediately benefit from housing units already constructed between Anna Catherina and Leonora.

Banking institutions and contractors were on site as pre-qualification got underway for the new houses to be built in the coming months.

“Today, I am happy that the banks and contractors are here.

“Our position is to have some persons move immediate into their homes because some are already completed… those will be persons in critical need,” Dr. Ali said during brief remarks.

“I want to tell you how pleased I am that you are participating in this programme today,” the President added.

Dr. Ali told those present that the government is embarking on an aggressive housing drive in Region Three to build and deliver houses to citizens that are affordable.

“Many homeowners prefer this model because of the challenges with contractors, transportation etc.

“The government has taken on additional responsibility to build these homes and make it accessible… we can do more things on a larger scale and achieve greater savings in bulk,” Dr. Ali added.

He told the residents that the government is committed to working with everyone to ensure they enjoy and live a better quality of life.

Dr. Ali said there was a wider infrastructural transformation taking place in Region three and said the government was upgrading its health and education institutions to match this transformation.

At the end of 2022, some 7,000 house lots were being developed in Region Three as part of the PPP/C government’s drive to provide 50,000 house lots to Guyanese by the year 2025.

The Ministry of Housing and Water in February 2023 inked 35 contracts valued at $15.47 billion for infrastructure development works in three communities in Region Three.

Those communities are: Meten- Meer- Zorg (Phase III, Lots One to 10), Stewartville (East and West, Lots One to 19) and Leonora (Phase II, Lots One to Six).

Of the 35 contracts, two are slated for retendering. Meanwhile, 10 contracts are for works at Meten-Meer- Zorg, 19 for Stewartville and six for works at Leonora.