Over 1,000 house lots distributed at Region Four ‘Dream Realised’

– Ministry to surpass 3,000 target by year end

After years of waiting, 1,000 residents of Region Four today, received their house lot allocations at the Ministry of Housing and Water’s ‘Dream Realised’ initiative.

Minister Hon. Collin Croal said the fast-paced housing drive is made possible through the continued support of the President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who instructed that provisions be made to ensure sustainable housing.

Since then, $3 billion was allocated in the 2020 Emergency Budget to facilitate new and upgrade existing housing schemes. Minister of

“Through the policies of His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, more than 1,000 persons will leave here today and throughout the course of the next two days that is today and tomorrow, at least 1,800 persons will leave here with the allocation of a plot of land.”

He added that “homeownership is a priority for this Government and the mandate given to this Ministry by His Excellency the President. We are ensured to committing that this mandate is fulfilled, as quickly as possible.”

The two-day event is being hosted by the Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Despite the challenges, the Ministry vigorously pursued its work programme to ensure homeownership countrywide. The work was hampered by the fact that the previous administration left no systems in place to access available lands, infrastructure and other measures necessary to create or enhance housing.

Minister within the Ministry, Hon. Susan Rodrigues, in her address, said the CH&PA had to overcome substantial odds to fulfil its housing commitments.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Hon. Susan Rodrigues at the Dream Realised initiative

“All of the odds were against us when we took office in August of this year. People had lost confidence in housing because, by the previous administration’s own admission, they had only allocated 7,000 house lots in five years.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves, said ‘Dream Realised’ is an important initiative in delivering the proposed 50,000 house lots over five years.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Housing and Planning Authority, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves (CH&PA)

“His Excellency has a mandate that we allocate 3,000 before the end of the year. We will be allocating 3,500, 500 more than mandated,” he said. Next week, the Ministry is taking Dream Realised back to Berbice, and there are plans to host it in Region Three.

Expectant parents, Mr. Paul and Mrs. Devi Lim, who also have a toddler, have been in the queue for about ten years. “Right now, we live in [an] extended home. So, at least I know that my kids are going to have their own spaces. We’re really excited to grow as a family and now to have our own home to do that as well,’ Mrs. Lim said.

Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal helps this couple to make a selection for their allocation

Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Hon. Susan Rodrigues, and some of the beneficiaries at today’s Dream Realised

Another couple expressed similar sentiments. “I’m renting, so it’s going to be a big step in my life right now because plenty times you have to keep moving from house to house, and it’s not easy to find that money every month to pay that house rent. Now I am getting my own lot, I’m going to start building soon,” Mrs. Deoranie Boodram said.

A stay-at-home mother of one, Mrs. Boodram said her husband, a carpenter, has several budding ideas about how they will design their home. They have been waiting for their allocation since 2011.

Ms. Andrea Nedd, a registered midwife at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), recalled making an initial application in 2009, then re-applying in 2013.

Ms. Nedd said she had engaged Minister Rodrigues on her matter during the first ‘Dream Realised’ initiative in October. The Minister, she said, committed to making checks, and she received a telephone call some days ago inviting her to ‘Dream Realised.’

“What a relief,” Ms. Nedd said, adding “this part of it is over. It’s just time for me to go to the other step. I wouldn’t say a house but as a single parent, my home.” The event continues tomorrow at the same location.