Women, youth most beneficiaries of 8, 578 residential lots allocated in 2023

At the close of 2023, the Ministry of Housing and Water is reporting that it is on track to achieving its goal of allocating 50, 000 house lots between 2020 and 2025.

A total of 30, 468 lots, 28, 368 of which are residential, were distributed between 2020 and 2023, members of the media were told at a year-end press conference hosted on Wednesday by subject ministers Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues.

But specific to 2023, a total of 8, 578 residential lots were distributed.

In its 2020 manifesto, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) promised to allocate 10, 000 lots annually until 2025.

Minister Rodrigues said the ministry has been steady at the task, acquiring and transferring lands with 51 new areas developed since 2020.

Lands allocated also include those for commercial and religious purposes, for regularization and open public spaces.

The ministry, Minister Rodrigues said has maintained a consistent 40 per cent allocation to women only and this year, the allocation to women only peaked at 43 per cent.

Further statistics provided by Minister Croal demonstrated that youth were also major beneficiaries, with 35-years-old and under receiving house lots accounting for 53.3 per cent of all allottees. Some 15, 119 of all allotees were young people.

Roughly 90 per cent of allottees were between low to moderate income, ensuring affordable housing for Guyanese and males only made up 27 per cent.

Providing regional breakdown, Croal said efforts are underway to develop new areas for housing in Regions 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10 but in 2023, some 7, 128 were distributed in Region Four.

These were mostly on the East Coast of Demerara with no new available lots on the East Bank of Demerara currently unavailable.

Another 1, 079 lots were distributed in Region Three, 125 in Region Five, and 192 in Region six in 2023.

The total allocations in 2023 make up for 32 per cent of total allocations since 2020.

Currently, there are 63, 032 pending applications in the system and the Ministry is currently making allocations to persons who applied in 2019 and prior.