After more than a decade of waiting and personal sacrifice, Mr. Kaishwarchand Ramphal is finally a homeowner.
Mr. Ramphal received a house lot twelve years ago but was unable to build due to financial challenges while caring for his ailing wife. Encouraged by her, he applied for assistance under the Government’s housing support initiative, though he remained uncertain about the outcome. His circumstances worsened when he was laid off after the closure of the sugar estate where he worked, and the payout he had hoped to use to construct his home was instead spent on his wife’s medical care.
“The day I got the call saying I qualified for the house was bittersweet,” Mr. Ramphal shared. “It was the same day the property I called home was taken from me because it was a property passed down to my siblings and me.”
However, his story ended on a hopeful note as he was among 24 families who received the keys to their new homes, marking the final batch of houses constructed under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – Government of Guyana Core Home Support Programme.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, said the project fulfilled its objective of making homeownership accessible to citizens who otherwise may not have been able to achieve it.
“This project has truly lived up to its goal of making homeownership accessible to all. When you secure a home, you are not only investing in yourself but in generations to come,” Minister Croal said.
He noted that while the programme has now reached its conclusion, the lessons learned will guide future initiatives aimed at supporting low- and moderate-income families.
“This brings a culmination to the project, but the lessons we have learned will certainly help as we implement other housing support initiatives. Too often we fail to acknowledge the vulnerabilities associated with renting, and initiatives like these highlight the importance of government support in securing stable housing,” he added.
Minister Croal emphasised that the core homes constructed under the project represent more than buildings, but rather opportunities for families to build secure futures.
Representing the Inter-American Development Bank, Chief of Operations Ivan Gaviria described the handover as a significant milestone for both the programme and the beneficiaries.
“Today is more than just a milestone in a project, but more importantly a milestone in your lives. Every key handed over represents a story of patience, perseverance, and hope,” Gaviria stated.
He added that the initiative was grounded in the belief that every family deserves not just a structure, but a safe and dignified home. The project, he noted, also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the global commitment to ensuring access to safe and adequate housing.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn, highlighted the human-centred approach taken during the implementation of the programme.
“We looked at the more humane aspect of the project. Seeing beneficiaries receive their keys is exactly what this initiative was designed to achieve. These efforts have made a tangible contribution to people’s livelihoods,” she said.
Minister Benn also noted that a significant number of the beneficiaries are women, describing it as a commendable outcome that reflects the programme’s impact on empowering families and communities.
The programme was implemented with support from the Inter-American Development Bank at a total cost of US$28 million (approximately GY$5.8 billion) and ran from December 2017 to March 2026. It comprised three main components: Affordable and Sustainable Housing, Consolidation of Existing Housing Schemes, Institutional Strengthening.
Under the Core Home Support Programme, the target was revised from 323 to 283 homes in November 2025 due to the death or withdrawal of some approved beneficiaries. In total, 378 beneficiaries were initially selected, with 282 homes completed, 250 handed over, and 194 currently occupied. One home remains under construction, while the remaining homes were handed over during the exercise.
The project also included a Home Improvement Subsidy Programme, which assisted 927 beneficiaries, with 855 subsidies disbursed and 649 home improvement projects completed.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Mr. Bishram Kuppen, along with Deputy Community Development, Ms. Donel Bess-Bascom, engineers, clerks of works, and staff from the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Community Development Department who worked on the project, were also in attendance at the ceremony.
The initiative represents one of the Government’s key efforts to expand housing opportunities and improve living conditions for vulnerable families across Guyana.
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