PPP/C eyes prefab houses to achieve ambitious housing target

The government’s ambitious plan to deliver 40,000 houses over the next five years is set to transform Guyana’s housing landscape, with authorities turning to prefabricated technology to meet soaring demand.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal stated that the scale of demand far exceeds what has been accomplished so far.

“It will be a huge demand. In this short period, we committed just about 4,000 houses, and the President is talking about 40,000. That means there will be a change in terms of our thinking about what we are doing,” Croal recently told the News Room.

As part of this new approach, Croal said the ministry will rely heavily on prefabricated housing, which can deliver homes at a rapid pace.

“If you want to have a multiplying effect, the volume that you may be looking for, then you will have to have innovative technology for construction and large companies involved so that you can have the injection into the capital that is required to have this done in a macro way,” he explained.

The initiative is part of the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) manifesto promise, with President Dr Irfaan Ali announcing at the launch of Building Expo that 16 houses will be delivered every day once the party is re-elected at the September 1 general and regional elections.

Each unit is expected to cost $15 million, representing an overall investment of $450 billion and creating an estimated 150,000 jobs. The programme will utilise lands already allocated to citizens, with a push to see construction on all empty lots.

“We want to see houses on them. It helps you, it helps the economy, it helps the country in general,” Croal said.