Alliyah Khan, a single mother of one, was among hundreds of Region Five residents celebrating a major step toward homeownership on Friday as the Ministry of Housing, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), commenced the distribution of more than 1,000 house lots and over 550 land titles across Mahaica-Berbice.
Khan, who received her certificate of title along with the steel and cement voucher, shared her excitement and appreciation.
“Hard work does pay off,” she stated, explaining that for 15 years she has been renting, but now she will be able to start constructing her own property.
Firefighter Ronaldo Odonoghue could not find the words to express his appreciation for the new achievement. He commended the smooth process after his visit.
“It was a very smooth process and well organised,” Odonoghue explained. “I have applied since 2019…Words cannot express the way I am feeling, but I am thankful, and this is a great initiative from the government.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CHPA), Dr Martin Pertab, said over the last five years, more than $9.5 billion has been invested in housing and related infrastructure across Region Five, supporting developments in areas including Onderneeming, Experiment, Bath, Block ‘M’, Shieldstown and Waterloo.
Dr Pertab highlighted that approximately 1,900 house lots have already been allocated in the region during the 2020-2025 period, while more than 1,000 titles have been processed.
In addition, over 3,200 steel and cement subsidies valued at more than $750 million have been distributed to assist families in constructing their homes.
An additional $1.5 billion will be invested in housing infrastructure this year, including works in Bath, Experiment, Hopetown and Waterloo, with the construction of approximately five kilometres of roads in several developing communities.
Minister of Housing Collin Croal said the exercise represents the start of a broader push to fulfil the government’s commitment to clear the pending backlog in the region.
Region Five’s housing backlog stood at approximately 4,100 applicants as of October 2025. However, ongoing investments are expected to address at least 60 per cent of those pending applications by March 2027.
The minister noted that the ministry has acquired additional lands through collaboration with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, enabling the development of new housing areas at Experiment and Hope.
He assured applicants that infrastructure development will move swiftly, with tenders expected to be advertised within weeks and works scheduled to begin shortly thereafter.
Minister Croal also underscored the government’s success in accelerating the issuance of land titles through strengthened collaboration with the Deeds and Land Registries. Processing times have been reduced from more than six months to approximately three months, allowing beneficiaries to acquire ownership documents more efficiently.
In support of home construction, he announced that more than 90 Region Five residents will receive steel and cement subsidies during the outreach, providing direct assistance valued at approximately $210,000 per household.
Minister Croal also encouraged future homeowners to utilise the Single Window System for building approvals, a platform designed to simplify the application process and provide faster access to construction permits.