Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal during a recent visit to Region Six said that over 29,000 house lots have been allocated countrywide as the government is continuing on the journey to 50,000 – its five-year target.
In addition to this, the ministry is also looking at developing a new housing scheme in Molsen Creek, Upper Corentyne.
Croal last week told Stabroek News that his ministry has so far allocated some 29,000 house lots noting that there will be an upcoming exercise to add to that number, “that’s progressing well, a lot of the focus has been within regions four, and three because that is where most of the backlog is, and for Region Four it’s on the East Coast of Demerara because we are basically, saturated in terms of availability on the East Bank of Demerara.”
Homing in on Region Six, Croal said that they are working to develop additional lands for allocation and developmental activities pointing out that when the new scheme was developed in Fort Ordnance, East Canje Berbice, there was a “heavy demand” given its proximity to New Amsterdam “so we are trying to get additional lands going that way.”
However, he added, that “there is a plan for a development of a new housing scheme in Molsen Creek, that’s on the further part, closer to where the crossing should be to Suriname.”
The Molsen Creek area has remained underdeveloped for decades with nearby Jackson Creek finally receiving potable water under the Irfaan Ali administration.
Giving an update on developments at Palmyra, Region Six, Croal pointed out that infrastructure works are ongoing while the actual construction of houses will commence shortly. He stressed, that they are now at the phase where construction can begin.
Stabroek News was told that the government is looking to develop 100 young professionals houses at the Palmyra location in the first phase.
“That area will be the envy for any living in proximity or even living in because you’ll have a housing development, you already have hospital, stadium, commercial activity, malls, etc., so it’s a complete hybrid of both residential and commercial activities”, he said.
Meanwhile, Croal also noted the new scheme at Hampshire, Corentyne, where the first phase of 100 low-income houses was built. He said, the “…majority of these houses are allocated but there is a process… from the system we normally send that through to the bank, the bank has to do the prequalification process so we are at the stage where the majority have been allocated.”
He noted, that while most keys have been handed over persons have embarked on cleaning and putting in additional tiling etc., as such in the early part of 2024 the houses should be occupied.
