Housing schemes being developed in Region Two to clear backlog of applications

With a backlog of over 2,000 house lot applications, work is being carried out to develop two housing schemes along the Essequibo Coast in Region Two.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal said on Saturday that it includes the extension of the Onderneeming Housing Scheme, where infrastructure works are scheduled to begin before the end of March.

The Onderneeming Housing Scheme consists of some 500 lots. Once works are completed, allottees will be able to access their lands.

Meanwhile, over at the Buxton/ St Joseph housing schemes, Croal said persons were not shown their lots yet because of challenges with flooding.

To address this, Croal said the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is working to come up with a long term solution.

“Some work has already started by the NDIA to desilt the area and put some work in place to address it long term,” Croal said.

With desilting ongoing, Croal said a new drainage canal and pump will be installed.

“By and large once we address that, persons would be able to access their land. We want this to be addressed by April the latest,” Croal said.

Altogether, the two areas accommodate around 791 house lots.

According to Croal, additional lands have been identified at Charity by the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission.

Altogether, the aim is to clear the existing backlog of applications in the region.

“We are very optimistic…we are working to clear the backlog of over 2000 in the system,” Croal said.