$750M hinterland housing programme to benefit 300 families

Hinterland communities in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, are set to see some 300 families benefiting from a $750M hinterland housing programme. It was revealed that this is a new initiative under the Housing and Water Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

At the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference, Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal during his presentation, said that the initiative is in keeping with the administration’s vision, for all communities to enjoy a similar quality of life.

“We want to move as quickly as possible on this… the collaboration or consultation starts as early as August,” Croal said. The minister disclosed that the initial phase of the programme will see vulnerable families benefiting from the construction of homes, and home improvement subsidies.

The minister stressed that in order to ensure transparency and accountability, he said the village councils will have to identify the families which are most in need. H said that the villagers will then have to agree with the selection through a voting process.

As such, for the home construction aspect of the project, CH&PA will employ two persons per unit, whilst the beneficiaries contribute the remainder of labour required for the completion of the home.

The housing minister revealed that local materials should be sourced and purchased from within the respective villages.

Croal further explained that the programme will mirror the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Sustainable Housing for the Hinterland Programme that was implemented previously by the CH&PA under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali when he served as Housing Minister.

Minister Croal declared that unlike the previous programme, which only catered for roof replacements, he said that the new initiative will allow beneficiaries to benefit from subsidies to renovate their homes.

“It can be for may be the completion of your wall, to modernise your home or to help for completion if you have doors, windows to change or replace. So, it will be a hybrid, and you will determine that from the consultations,” he further explained.

Croal noted that Kokerite village, Region One, will be one of the first villages to benefit from the home construction initiative. This village, which is located on the bank of the Barama River, is prone to flood and efforts are underway to move the residents inland.

Additionally, Croal however, reminded the Amerindian leaders, that unlike housing programmes on the coastland, all costs are waived for beneficiaries in the hinterland. He added that a special unit will be established to roll-out the programme.