The Ministry of Housing is hoping to distribute around 30,000 house lots within the next five years as government continues to fast track the development and modernisation of the country’s housing and construction sectors. This disclosure was made by Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, during an interview with this newspaper recently. Ali said that his team is prepared to work towards ensuring that the target as envisaged by the ministry be reached and probably surpassed.
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali
He did say that special emphasis will be placed on driving more development along the East Bank corridors with the creation, allocation and distribution of a record number of house lots for Guyanese over the next few years. “We have no doubt that we will be able to provide affordable homes to our Guyanese brothers and sisters.
As a matter of fact, we are more than confident that our efforts at transforming Guyanese into home owners will add value to their lives, while empowering them and motivating them to play their part in the country’s overall development”, Minister Ali noted.
Allocations
He said that 1000 house lots will be created this year alone under the Eccles Extension Project, while indicating as well that some 150 houses will be constructed in partnership with the private sector investors for professional groups. An additional 800 house lots will be allocated in Herstelling, EBD and will be ready for distribution and allocation by August this year.
Ali also disclosed that the completion of the design for 300 acres of land that will see some 1500 house lots being developed and created adjacent to Herstelling is also been undertaken. “We want all Guyanese to benefit and to have equal and equitable access to this public good”, he informed as he announced that works on the Re-migrant’s Scheme in the Providence Area is also nearing completion stages.
Similarly, plans are afoot to utilise approximately 300 acres of land for Guyanese that fall under the moderate income bracket in the same area. This would more than likely see 1200 house lots available by the end of May.
Diamond/Grove work and plans
In the meantime, works have already commenced on the alternative exit/ entrance to the Diamond and Grove Housing Schemes located on the lower East Bank corridor.
“The design has already been completed and works have begun in this respect”, Minister Ali emphasised, while shying away from giving any definitive timeline through which works on this alternative exit and entrance will be completed.
With the new entrance/exit being constructed, residents will be able to witness improvements in the levels of security provided and transportation, to and from the huge housing scheme which is plagued by high levels of crime and traffic congestions.
Under the financial investments made, citizens can also expect to see the commencement of works on the multi- million dollar four-lane highway which is to be constructed right up to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. “Contracts have been awarded and works have begun on the four-lane highway”, the minister reported.
He explained that “phase one of the works done will see the road being completed straight to Diamond” after which the second phase would see its completion to the airport. This will result in lesser traffic congestion on the East Bank and will serve to bolster more investment by both public and private entities along the corridors.
