President Irfaan Ali has signaled a major push to accelerate land and home delivery, citing a surge of over 67,000 new house lot applications since 2020 as a clear indicator of public confidence in the government’s housing agenda.
Speaking at the opening of the International Building Expo at the Providence Stadium on Thursday, the President addressed the growing demand for residential land, which has pushed the total number of active applications in the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) system to more than 81,000.
President Ali attributed the sharp rise in applications—particularly from young adults—to the government’s consistent investment in the housing sector. “What took place between 2020 and now is nothing short of extraordinary, because of the confidence of the people in knowing that they will get the house lots,” the President remarked.
Despite the influx of new requests, the government is prioritizing the reduction of the longstanding backlog before fully addressing newer applications.
The President provided an update on land ownership documentation, noting that over 30,000 titles have been distributed since 2020, with another 20,000 currently being processed. He pledged to fast-track these remaining titles and urged allottees to complete their necessary transactions promptly.
“While we have processed 30,000 titles, there are still thousands of titles in the vault awaiting delivery,” he noted, emphasizing that cooperation from recipients is essential to clearing the administrative logjam.
Looking ahead, the government plans to introduce a comprehensive housing development strategy within the coming weeks. This initiative is expected to:
Support Vulnerable Populations: Provide specific pathways for low-income citizens to attain homes.
Diverse Housing Solutions: Offer tailored options for low, moderate, and medium-income earners.
Streamline Services: Create a more efficient system for home building, financing, and service delivery.
The President noted that the demand is so robust that many individuals who have already been allocated land are now seeking to trade those lots for “young professional” housing units, reflecting a shifting preference in the market.
The International Building Expo, currently underway at Providence, features over 350 companies and government agencies, providing a one-stop-shop for citizens to explore construction services, home-building products, and regulatory information.
