PPP/C didn’t deliver 34,406 house lots as claimed; Housing Minister Croal must provide answers

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), continues to lie blatantly to the people of Guyana through the various sectors. However, for this article, I will focus my attention on the Housing Sector.

Since the commencement of the year 2024, the Central Housing and Planning Authority through Mr. Colin Croal, Minister of Housing and Water announced that between 2020 to 2023, a total of 34,406 house lots have been distributed. The evidence on the ground is far from the reality.

One must be weary when the constant beat of 50,000 house lots by 2025. From the figures given of 34,406 house lots distributed, visits were made to several areas and what is evident is that many allottees have not commenced construction. Additionally, lands have been overtaken by huge weeds and bushes, putting additional strain and burden on potential homeowners.

Recently, I visited the Cummings Lodge area, parcel 1767, allottees and residents in close proximity complained about the challenges posed to them, lack of drainage, water supply and electricity.

I have been reliably informed that lands initially allocated to persons by the Coalition Government between 2019-2020, during my short stint as Minister with responsibility for Housing and Water, when the PPP/C took Government, they blatantly recalled the lots from allottees and re-assigned them, claiming the lord were illegally allocated, since there was a “no confidence” against the Coalition Government. This is the crassness of the PPP/C. Unfortunately for them, everything is Political. It is TIME leaders grow maturity and cease with the pettiness, hurting innocent Guyanese in the end.

While scouting the area, my attention was drawn to several issues, that I perceived maybe affecting persons from constructing:

1. No electricity in the area, for the exception of a few “Wallaba Poles” planted in sections of the area.
2. No water supply. GWI is currently building a new water plant in the area.
3. Bad roads for accessibility to lands.
4. Lands allocated to persons overtaken by high bushes.
5. A number of derelict equipment and vehicles in sections of the area.
6. Works, on roads and electricity are not being done in the area.
7. For the exception of a homeowner erecting columns, an area is partially sand filled, there is NO evidence of houses being constructed by allottees.

It was painful to observe the conditions of lands allocated to our people. In some areas, the lands are in “swampy conditions.”

At the recently held “International Building Expo,” the Ministry of Housing issued to individuals, “subsidy vouchers,” for Cement and steel. The reality though is whether those who are in need are the true beneficiaries of the subsidies. I have questioned and written at nausea, challenging Mr. Croal to list the areas these beneficiaries are residing, what mechanisms the Ministry deploys to ensure fairness and equity. To date, I am still waiting for the information to be made available.

Additionally, with the issuance of the subsidy vouchers to beneficiaries, it is alleged that specified business entities perceived to be in association with the PPPC; the vouchers should be remitted there. It is clear that CORRUPTION has become the hallmark of the PPPc regime. What is further injurious to the Guyanese population is that those who are responsible for addressing this scourge have been turning a blind out, and the perpetrators are allowed to walk away.

Classic examples are the US$214M after audit recovery involving an officer at the Ministry of Natural Resources; the Guyana Police Force involving a Senior Police Officer and at the Ministry of Housing, where a staff was fingered in land deals.

I therefore call on Mr. Croal to provide publicly to the people of Guyana the following:

1. From the $78B approved for the Housing Sector in Budget 2024, what percentage went to the infrastructural development for Cummings Lodge, parcel 1767?
2. What percentage of infrastructural works have been completed as at August 15, 2024 in the Cummings Lodge area, parcel 1767?
3. Who are the contractors awarded contracts?
4. Provide a disaggregation of the sums awarded to each contractor and the scope of works.
5. What are the durations for each awarded contracts?
6. Why are swamped lands in some sections of the area allocated to persons?
7. Why haven’t persons commenced building?
8. When the area will have complete electricity service?
9. When will construction complete on the water plant?
10. How many allottees for this area have benefited from the “Cement and Steel subsidy?”
11. Have all allottees in this area received their Titles and Agreement of Sale?

If no to (11) above, why the delay and when will persons receive these documents?

It will be remiss of me, if I fail to make mention of the fact that despite the Government’s touting and beating of the number of house lots distributed, many persons are reaching out to me complaining that they applied since 2000, 2006, 2010, 2011 and they are still to receive a call from the Ministry. Therefore, the question one should ask, where and who really got house lots, which now stands to more than 34,406, according to Messrs Croal, Jagdeo, Ali and Phillips?

Success is measured when one sees the outputs from their inputs.

As the old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” I have taken a few images for persons to have an understanding or fair knowledge of what is currently happening on the ground at Cummings Lodge, parcel 1767.

I will end by appealing to Mr. Croal and others in the PPPC, to stop lying and deceiving the people of Guyana. They deserve better!!!!

By Hon Annette Ferguson, Shadow Minister of Housing and Water