November 22, 2021 (Georgetown, Guyana) – On Monday, the Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), held its seventh ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive for the year 2021, at the Amerindian Hostel in Lethem, Region Nine.
Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Hon. Susan Rodrigues and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Andre Ally, were all at the opening ceremony. Also present were Mayor of Lethem, His Worship John Macedo and Regional Chairman, Mr. Brian Allicock.
Cognizant of 925 pending applications in Region Nine as of August 2021, CHPA has developed a new area – Tract ‘CHPA’, Lethem. Approximately 500 lots have been made available in this scheme for low, moderate and middle-income residents. Some 350 were allocated through Monday’s event, while another 150 will be allocated over the next few days at the Regional Housing Office.
Poke Bridge New Housing Scheme, Lethem Region 9
Minister Croal noted that the exercise will assist in the reduction of the housing deficit in the region and also add towards the Ministry’s overall target of 10,000 house lot allocations by the end of 2021. This is the first such event in the hinterland, as the Minister stated that the Ministry is mandated to provide equal opportunities for hinterland and coastal residents. He further stated that in the coming year, the Ministry will be making a substantial investment towards infrastructure development in the new housing area.
“In 2022, we intend to begin works to the tune of $1.5 billion on infrastructure in Track ‘CHPA’ in the vicinity of Poke Bridge New Housing Scheme. This will see approximately 700 households receiving water, electricity and the construction of roads, community playgrounds and other facilities and a school. Contracts for these works will soon be signed as we have already put out the call for tenders,” said Minister Croal.
Hon. Collin Croal M.P, Minister of Housing & Water as he address the allottees of Poke Bridge New Housing Scheme, Lethem Region 9
In keeping with his commitment for the improved regional housing services, the Minister announced the appointment of a new Regional Housing Officer for Region Nine and the ongoing construction of the Ministry’s sub-office, which will house CHPA and Guyana Water Inc. (GWI).
In her remarks, Minister Rodrigues noted that the exercise and infrastructure projects through the Ministry, will provide a number of spin-off benefits and generate job creation and business opportunities for hundreds in construction and other sectors.
“All of those materials and labour will come from the region, so there is going to be massive development in this region and in the local economy,” Minister Rodrigues expressed.
Hon. Susan Rodrigues, M.P, Minster within the Ministry of Housing & Water as she delivers her remarks to the allottees of Poke Bridge New Housing Scheme, Lethem Region 9
Also in the area of housing, the Ministry is currently upgrading roads in the Tabatinga Housing Scheme, to the tune of $94 million. Street light installations will also be executed in the Tabatinga and Culvert City Schemes.
Through the Hinterland Housing Programme, residents are also expected to benefit from the Core Home support and Home Improvement Subsidies, in two villages of each of the five sub-districts.
