Just over 5,600 citizens who were allocated house lots at new housing schemes on the East Coast of Demerara during 2022 will soon be able to access their lands to commence construction.
The lots were allocated in the communities of Plantation Hope, Enterprise, Non Pariel, Good Hope, Lusignan and Le Resouvenier.
On Friday, Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal visited these housing schemes to inspect ongoing infrastructural works.
During the visit, Croal interacted with contractors, who related that the works are between 50 to 80 percent completed.
A December 15, 2023 deadline was therefore set for them to complete all infrastructural works, which include building bridges and drains.
“Contractors have absolutely no excuses now for delays…Absolutely nothing to do in terms of weather and they ought to be working day and night,” Croal said.
“The reason why I am doing these visits too is that I am trying to implore on them the earlier they finish…it’s better for them”.
According to Croal, within the last three years the government has allocated about 10,800 lots on the East Coast of Demerara.
For the year so far, he said another 5,000 were allocated and the aim is to allocate another 1,000 lots before the end of this year and this will take the total number of allocations on the East Coast of Demerara to 11,800.
“That’s the magnitude of allocations exercises that we have.
“So we are responding and there is a lot of commitment here with the expenses the government has committed to ensure that we have home ownership,” Croal said.
The allocation of the lots forms part of the government’s effort to provide affordable housing to all Guyanese.
The lands, Croal said were distributed in lots to ensure that there is a spread and that one contractor is not taking on work beyond their capacity.
The breakdown of allocation of lots for each housing scheme are as follows: Hope-30, Enterprise and Non Pariel – 1110, Good Hope- 3,000, Lusignan Phase 1 and 2 along with Two Friends- 800, and Le Resouvenier- 752.
“…It’s a lot of work available for contractors that’s why those who perform will get more work.
“These are the things we take into consideration – that the evaluators take into consideration when they are evaluating outstanding work by contractors,” Croal said.
This year, over $10 billion will be spent on infrastructure projects on the East Coast of Demerara.
“Because of the amount of allocations that we are doing….we have to have infrastructural works to match that,” Croal noted.
