Approximately 844 house lots were distributed to Guyanese for phase three of the Zeelugt Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo when the Housing Ministry staged its fifth ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise for the year on Friday.
The lots, which ranged from low income to middle income, cost Gy$92,000 to Gy$300,000. Speaking at the event hosted at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said the government will invest Gy$700 million in phase three of the housing scheme for infrastructural development. He stated that this was in addition to the Gy$20 million it has already spent on land clearing, adding that Gy$54.7 million was invested in the provision of electricity for the community.
“For every single family that have benefitted from a house lot today, the government has invested on your behalf almost 830,000,” he underscored. He said taking into consideration all the payments, there is a difference of Gy$537 million, hence the administration will actually make a loss. However, Ali stated that to the government, this was not a loss, since it is investing in its people, their lives and their future.
“We consider this to be the subsidy that the government pays on behalf of you, so for every single lot, there is an average subsidy of 76.7 percent into that phase three… whatever is the value of the land, you are only paying 24 percent of the value of the land,” he pointed out.
More lots
The housing minister also mentioned that the ministry is working on developing 300 more lots at a cost of Gy$240 million at Zeeburg, while it is working on developing 1270 house lots at a cost of Gy$800 million in Lust En Rust, West Coast Demerara. This means by the end of the year, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will distribute more than 2400 house lots in Region Three at a cost of Gy$2.9 billion.
He added that government remained committed to ensuring that every single Guyanese owns a home, emphasising that this dedication needs to be shared among all stakeholders and political parties.
“Because more and more in society, we are seeing a lot of petty politics and politics that can derail the development process…, but I want to assure you that this government will stay committed to a politics that brings great improvement in the living conditions and livelihoods of people all across this country.”
Security of homeownership
President Donald Ramotar, who was also present at the One Stop Shop, acknowledged knowing what it felt like to live in a rented house and what it felt like to finally own one’s home.
“When you finally get your own home and you get your roof over your head, you get that secure feeling that no one can put you out and you are the king of our own home… we believe that when you have that security of your own home, that you have greater peace of mind.”
He noted that government has also put systems in place to aid low and middle income homeowners in accessing affordable concessionary interest rates instead of commercial interest rates. Ramotar highlighted that these rates are possible, because the government does not tax the interest earned by the banks on loans.
He explained that the government sees Region Three as a significant area where a housing boom is developing, thus it realises the need to provide more jobs in this region, so persons can work close to home. He revealed that the state is aggressively working to address this area, making reference to the fibre-optic cable, which is being laid, as a means of creating these job opportunities once completed.
