Billions for construction of new houses, home improvement support 

The government’s robust housing agenda is expected to steam ahead this year, with a major $150 billion allocation approved for the construction of new homes, the development of housing schemes, and the expansion of the home improvement support initiative.

The Parliamentary Committee of Supply approved an overall $159.4 billion budget for the Ministry of Housing on Wednesday night. Before that approval, however, Parliamentarians scrutinised the allocation in great detail, and subject minister Collin Croal revealed that the mega $150 billion allocation will go towards advancing the robust housing agenda. 

That robust housing agenda included developing new housing schemes so that thousands of applicants can receive house lots; it also includes the government’s target of constructing 8,000 new houses annually. 

Additionally, about $2.2 billion will be spent on land acquisition efforts, so new schemes can be developed. Another $2.67 billion is needed to develop the utilities infrastructure, and another $5.4 billion is for infrastructure upgrades in existing areas. 

Guyana’s housing programme is facing a backlog of more than 78,000 applicants awaiting the allocation of house lots, with over two-thirds concentrated in Region Four, where demand is driven by the need to be close to economic and job opportunities near the capital, Georgetown. In the last five-year government, more than 53,000 house lots were distributed, and now, the government intends to tackle this backlog through a combination of efforts, including the development of new schemes and the construction of houses. 

During the Consideration of the Budget Estimates on Wednesday, Minister Croal said the government is responding to the enduring issue of squatting. To do so, several areas will be regularised. Some of the areas for regularisation this year include Lima Sands, Walton Hall, Jibb, Paradise, Plantation Bess, Pourderoyen, Non-Pariel, Bladen Hall, Beterverwagting, parts of Foulis, Plantation Ituni, and Silver Hill.

Meanwhile, relocation efforts will unfold at the Bess sea defence area (commonly known as Plastic City), Greenwich Park sea defence area, Zeelugt sea defence area, Cornelia Ida sea defence area, and the Tuschen sea defence area. 

Beyond the $150 billion allocation, there is an additional $7.5 billion sum that will allow the government to assist citizens with the construction of new homes, including through the cement and steel programme, and provide some funds for repairs and other home improvement efforts.