Guyana’s housing program is currently grappling with a significant backlog of more than 78,000 applicants waiting for the allocation of house lots. A substantial two-thirds of these applications are concentrated in Region Four, where demand is heightened by the proximity to economic and job opportunities near the capital city.
In the past five years, the government has successfully distributed over 53,000 house lots. However, Minister of Housing Collin Croal revealed in a recent statement on his Facebook page that Region Four poses the greatest challenge, accounting for more than 52,000 of the pending applications. He committed to addressing the backlog across all regions while making a concerted effort to reduce the numbers in Region Four.
To tackle the issue, the government is collaborating with key state agencies and partners to identify and release suitable lands. These collaborations involve the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Guyana Sugar Corporation, and, in Region Five, the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).
Minister Croal outlined the strategy to achieve a 100% clearance of pending applicants in all regions, with a focused approach to steadily reduce the overwhelming demand in Region Four. The government has reiterated that clearing the housing backlog is a priority within its broader housing and development agenda, as they strive to meet the growing demand for housing across the country.
