In another week and a half, the Ministry of Housing and Water will be unveiling its 2024 Building Expo; under the theme: “Building on the foundation for sustainability and unity.” Further, the Ministry has reported that some 353 exhibitors both locally and internationally, will be displaying their products and services.
I can only imagine the sums of money being pumped into this activity for the hype and ceremony, to give one the impression that the Government is doing so well in the housing sector and Guyanese are totally satisfied with the performance of the Ministry.
As I have been saying and will iterate for emphasis, the PPP/C government is not serious about the welfare of the ordinary Guyanese. The constant beating and boasting of 50,000 house lots to be distributed by 2025 has nullified a bit in 2024, since the reality is that it is impossible for any Government to have this amount delivered in a five years period. The evidence is there to prove that in the PPPc’s initial twenty-three years they did NOT issue 50,000 house lots in five years. I challenge Mr. Croal to prove me wrong!
In January 2024, Mr. Croal reported at his year-end review for the Ministry of Housing, they issued 30,406, and announced subsequently in June 2024 that 4,000 house lots have been distributed with another 2,000 to be distributed by year end. Let’s say for argument’s sake that this is accurate, how come persons who applied pre May 2015 are reaching out to me, saying that they are still to receive a call from the Ministry about their applications? Therefore, something is definitely wrong with the figures coming out from the Ministry of Housing, between both Croal and Rodrigues, with Mr. Jagdeo falling suit.
Lack of a comprehensive housing plan is NOT a priority for the Jagdeo/Ali regime
The lack of a comprehensive housing plan is NOT a priority for the Jagdeo/Ali regime. Everything seems to be done in an ad hoc way. If the Government was serious about making every Guyanese a homeowner, the millions or billions they intend to spend for the upcoming Building Expo could have gone into other areas, and perhaps to build additional and quality homes for ordinary Guyanese, who are truly deserving of the assistance at this time.
During the consideration of budget 2024, Minister Colin Croal reported that some 30,406 house lots distribution were made. However, when one visits the housing schemes, they are confronted with the stark reality! That is, many lots are unoccupied, while in many instances, it is difficult for allottees to have egress and ingress, due to incomplete infrastructural works and the lack of electricity and water in the area.
The government through the Ministry of Housing and Water, has recommenced the promulgation of “Building Expo.” While I have no objections to this, I am concerned about the methodology used by the government, since in my view it’s more about allowing huge conglomerates to showcase their products, whether locally or internationally made. The question that troubles me, “are the poor and vulnerable groups benefiting from this exercise?” Subsequent to the last Building Expo held in 2023, I penned a missive to the Editor asking whether a post assessment was conducted, and what are the findings after evaluation. I can say that the question still remains relevant in 2024. Minister Croal once in the National Assembly made a sweeping statement to the letter, rather than seeing the question for its worth.
Another concern of mine, is that there is an entrance fee to the Expo. There are spaces rented to small businesses to trade during the expo period. However, it is difficult to know how the monies are accounted for, whether they are deposited or transferred to the Consolidated Fund. The lack of Accountability and Transparency to the National Assembly or to the public.
In my view, it is impossible for many of our people who earn at the minimum level to procure the fancies of home furnishings on display. Many of the people who visit booths at the expo are basically “window shopping.”
In the 2024 budget, the housing sector received $78B. However, it is difficult to determine where and how this money is being expended. If one is to take a walk in existing and developing housing schemes, you will see the nature of works being done. Infrastructure incomplete and the substandard works done by contractors. For the Water Sector, the sum of $22.5B was approved for 2024. While we hear of the many modernized water plants constructed, the neglect of pure and safe water consumption continues to affect regions and communities. In many areas, the complaints are numerous, as it relates to “high iron content.” The other concern hinges on the “rationing of water.”
There is evidence Coalition Government did better for housing
The evidence is there for all to see that during the Coalition Government, emphasis was placed on Goal Six of “the sustainable development Goal,” on “clean water and sanitation.” I am of the belief that the PPP/C regime has no care in their hearts to ensure that Goal 6 is realized.
With the hype in ceremony expected for the 2024 EXPO, Guyanese will be mesmerized with what has been done, what is doing and what will be done. What they will NOT say to the public are the following:
- Number of allottees who have commenced building, since August 2020.
- Number of persons who were given allocations during the Coalition Government, paid in full and at the time of me preparing this publication, are still waiting four years to see their lands, receive their titles and their Agreements of Sale.
- How many friends of the PPPc are receiving contracts to build houses, which after months of construction, the flaws begin to show up. A typical example, young professional houses built in Prospect, EBD, Providence Phase 114.
- 100% paid to a company ( Synergy Global Inc.) reportedly owned and controlled by the sons of Minister Joseph Hamilton. This matter was brought to my attention, since several failed attempts by the owners to have the technical staff at CHPA addressed the situation. With my intervention, I engaged Minster Croal to have the matter resolved between CHPA and the contractors.
- The steel and cement subsidy, the friends of the PPPc are benefiting, since the beneficiaries are given vouchers in varying sums to procure from suppliers who are aligned to the Government.
- Many Guyanese in South Georgetown, who completed qualification under the Coalition Government have been deprived benefits under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Program, which the Coalition Government was able to effectively negotiate with the IDB for the sum of the US$34.5M. After coming into office, rather continue with the program, the PPP/C has remodeled the program, to ensure that they constituents, who lose areas were NOT in the approved project scope, set out by IDB.
- How many allottees, who earn below the minimum wage, were able to qualify for a mortgage at the Commercial Banks? With such analysis, it gives one a sense that the banking system is working for the ordinary man.
- Why are the cost of lands selling at exorbitant prices now that Guyana is an oil producing country and there has not been any changes in the subsidizing of the cost by the Government?
- How the Ministry intends to address the alleged CORRUPTION in Housing? This has been a major bug bearer where it is alleged that senior officials in the Ministry are deeply involved; using middle men as their contact.
Therefore, I would urge my Guyanese brothers and sisters to exercise wisdom, during the period of building Expo! A personal decision for you to weigh your options, having to expend what you already don’t have in a high cost of living economy; where the Bharrat/Ali regime has shown contempt to you, by not providing the needed assistance. I will end by saying, the Building Expo is NOT for the ordinary man, but rather for allowing huge businesses to put on exhibit what they have to offer.
Hon Annette Ferguson MP
