Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin D Croal, presented on ‘National Development Strategies for Housing and Infrastructure’ during the Annual Police Officers’ Conference on Friday afternoon. Notable attendees included Deputy Commissioners, Mr. Calvin Brutus, Mr. Ravindradat Budhram, Mr. Wendell Blanhum, and Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Errol Watts.
Minister Croal highlighted the allocation of over 30,000 lots to Guyanese, including joint services members, over the past three years. He further emphasized the direct impact of the housing programme on the joint services, as they are also beneficiaries of the home construction initiative, which spans across several regions.
Ensuring the development of schemes, he pointed to the ongoing infrastructure projects within these areas. The development strategy also includes a planned investment exceeding $120 billion for a number of completed and future four-lane highways.
Additionally, the Minister highlighted government initiatives promoting homeownership, such as the Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy Programme, Lethem Housing Support Programme, VAT removal on building materials, lower mortgage interest rates, and an increased mortgage ceiling. The interactive session with attendees also allowed meaningful discussions on security provisions within housing schemes and other pertinent topics.