If all beneficiaries of Govt housing programmes are ‘friends & family’, I claim them all – Croal hits back at Opposition

Minister of Housing Collin Croal on Wednesday rejected claims by the political opposition that government initiatives benefit only the “friends, family and favourites” of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), asserting that if the thousands of beneficiaries of housing programmes fall into that category, then “I claim them all.”

Croal made this assertion during his contribution to the 2026 Budget Debates as he detailed the progress made in the housing sector over the last five years and the ambitious plans that will be rolled out to ensure every citizen has the opportunity to access affordable living solutions.

The housing minister disclosed that in the last five years, some 53,000 house lots were distributed.

“Are we saying the 53,000 is of only one type? Are we saying the 53,000 are only supporters of the PPP/C? Then I am proud to claim them, if they’re all my friends, if they’re all my family, if they’re all my favourite, I am proud to claims them,” Croal asserted.

In addition to the house lot distribution exercise, the minister disclosed that some 4500 houses were constructed, some 1900 informal settlers were regularised, over 100 new housing areas were established, and some 25,000 land titles were processed.

Further, he noted that the government launched the block-making initiative to support the booming construction industry and provide employment for scores of individuals.

He also pointed to the steel and cement subsidy programme that offset construction costs for vulnerable citizens.

Moreover, through government interventions, the low-income mortgage ceiling will now be increased to $30 million and will also be extended to approved insurance companies that offer housing loans, making homeownership less burdensome for citizens.

He also highlighted the economic impact  of the government’s housing drive, noting that over 200 small contractors have reaped benefits.

“You tell those small contractors, all local, small contractors, you tell them, tell them and criticise them. They’ve played their role, they have created employment for over 25,000 persons. Now think about the magnitude when we’ll embark on our 8000 first phase programme,” Croal said, referring to the government’s plan to construct 40,000 houses over the next five years.

In contrast, he reminded that the former APNU+AFC coalition from May 2015 to July 2020, made only 7,534 allocations, 2,000 of which were made when they were on “borrowed time” after their government fell to a no-confidence motion.

Apart from the allocations, Croal reminded that they only constructed 200 houses. “…and then to add insult to injury, they introduced duplexes, 40 of them that were neither properly recognised by the banks or could be covered by the insurance companies, there was no legal framework,” the minister asserted, reminding that it was the PPP/C that passed the necessary supportive laws.

In this regard, the housing minister contended that the opposition parliamentarians, particularly those that were part of the previous APNU+AFC administration, have no credibility to criticise the current administration’s housing programmes.

“One cannot spend five years doing almost nothing, and then return to this Parliament and pretend to be an expert, this is not leadership, this is theatre,” Croal emphasised.

Further, he dismissed contentions from the APNU+AFC members that they did not have oil revenues to fund better programmes.

“All the oil revenue in the world will not derive development if a government lacks vision, discipline, leadership and a commitment to delivering social solutions for people,” he posited.