The Government has begun implementing plans to clear the housing backlog in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), with up to 1000 house lots being made available under the latest Dream Realised housing exercise and new expansion plans announced for the eastern end of the region.
Housing Minister Collin Croal made the announcement on Friday during the Ministry’s “Dream Realised” housing initiative at Rosignol on Friday, where applicants gathered to be considered for allocations in two new housing areas.
According to the Minister, the exercise represents the start of Government’s effort to fulfil a commitment to clear all pending housing applications in the region during its current term in office.
“Our manifesto commitment says, for regions like yours, that we will intend to clear all of the pending applicants,” Croal told residents. Today [Friday] is the day that we will start the process to implement our 2025 five-year mandate of ensuring we fulfil that commitment here in Region Five.”
The Minister explained that while the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) database reflects more than 4000 applications in Region Five, officials recognise that some applicants may have relocated, migrated or secured housing elsewhere.
He said the Ministry has been working with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to secure additional lands to meet the demand. Croal noted that applicants who attended the previous allocation exercise in October 2024 but were unable to receive lots because of limited availability were given priority consideration during Friday’s activity.
Those allocations are being made in new housing developments at Experiment and another area identified as Track A-O. He said the Ministry now has sufficient land to cater to all applicants attending the current exercise and indicated that additional allocations could be made if necessary.
Infrastructure works
Beyond allocations, Croal stressed that Government’s housing programme is focused on ensuring that new developments are supported by the necessary infrastructure. He disclosed that designs for the new housing areas have already been completed and that tenders for infrastructure works are expected to be advertised within weeks.
“We have already completed the design, and within a month you will see the advertisement out for the infrastructure work for this area,” the Minister said. The works are intended to ensure that roads, drainage, utilities and other services are in place as allottees prepare to construct homes.
Titles and ownership
Croal also announced that more than 550 certificates of title were available for distribution during Friday’s exercise. Of that figure, more than 330 titles relate to lands at Experiment, while another 189 are linked to the Blairmont-Shieldstown area.
An additional 20 titles are expected to benefit persons occupying lands in regularised areas within Blairmont.
The Minister said Region Five has recorded significant progress in title processing, with more than 1000 titles processed during the last period. He explained that while title processing involves agencies outside of the Housing Ministry, including the Land Registry and Deeds Registry, measures introduced by Government have significantly reduced waiting times.
“When we came in as a Government, your titles were taking longer than six months,” Croal said. “We have engaged a registrar; we have a methodology; we have added staff from our end; they have added staff from their end; and the time period we are now working with for processing of titles is three months.”
For many of the beneficiaries, receiving their land titles marked the end of years of waiting and uncertainty.
“I feel happy and grateful.”
Among them was 44-year-old Antras Pasar of Experiment, who said he first applied in 2012. Having already started construction on his home, Pasar said receiving the title now provides security for his family and future generations.
“I feel happy and grateful,” he said, noting that the document gives him something tangible that can one day be passed on to his three children. Savika Dayal, who applied in 2019, described the occasion as both exciting and relieving.
“I was getting out of patience because I really needed a lot,” she admitted. Dayal said she has already begun building and believes obtaining the title is an important personal achievement.
“It means a lot. At least I have something to be accomplished,” she said. Retna Sempo, who said she has been waiting since around 2014, was equally pleased to finally receive the document.
“I’m feeling so good that I got my title right now,” she said, explaining that it will allow her to begin building a home for her family. Sempo is the mother of seven children. Another beneficiary, Devotee Singh of Experiment, who applied in 2015, said the title represents a major milestone for her young family.
“I feel so happy because for me personally, I am happy to achieve something. This is a big stepping stone for me and my family,” Singh said. The mother of a four-year-old son explained that home ownership would provide stability and free her family from having to move from place to place.
“So that now I can own my own home and I don’t have to move places and stuff like that,” she added.
Support for home construction
The Minister also highlighted Government’s steel and cement voucher initiative, which provides assistance to persons constructing homes on newly acquired lands.
According to Croal, more than 90 Region Five residents were expected to benefit from the programme during Friday’s exercise, representing approximately $21 million in direct support. He said more than $73 million had already been distributed under the initiative in Region Five. The programme was introduced to assist homeowners with foundation works and help accelerate home construction.
Expansion
Meanwhile, Croal used the opportunity to announce plans for further housing expansion in the eastern section of Region Five. While noting that house lots remain available in the Borma area, he disclosed that Government is actively seeking additional lands for the development of a housing scheme within the Mahaicony area. “We are currently working to identify or to acquire some lands to develop a housing scheme within the Mahaicony precinct,” the Minister announced.
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