Duncan Queries Coordination Between Housing Authority and NDCs

Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan has raised concerns about the online housing plan submission system operated by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), saying complaints from citizens suggest the platform may be complicating rather than simplifying the building approval process.

Duncan, who represents A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in the National Assembly—where the coalition holds 12 seats—said residents have reported that after submitting their building plans through the online portal, they are later instructed to visit their Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and resubmit the same documents through paper-based systems.

“According to complaints received, applicants who submit their building plans through the online portal are later instructed to visit their Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and resubmit the same documents through paper-based systems. If this reflects the current process, then the intended benefits of digitalisation are being undermined,” Duncan stated.

He noted that the purpose of introducing an online platform should be to streamline the interaction between citizens and the State.

“A properly designed system ought to reduce duplication, shorten approval timelines, and provide a clear pathway from application to decision,” Duncan said. “When an applicant must first submit documents electronically and then repeat the process physically with another authority, the system risks becoming more burdensome than the paper-based process it was meant to replace.”

The issue, he added, also raises questions about coordination between CH&PA and local authorities, particularly NDCs, which retain statutory responsibility for building approvals within their communities.

Duncan argued that if Guyana is to move toward modern housing administration, digital systems must be integrated across institutions so that a single application can move through the approval process without requiring applicants to duplicate submissions.

“With the scale of public investment in housing and the large number of Guyanese seeking to build on allocated house lots, the approvals process must be efficient, transparent, and truly put people first,” he said.

The opposition parliamentarian indicated that he will be seeking clarification from the Ministry of Housing and Water and CH&PA through the National Assembly regarding how the system is intended to function and whether the necessary institutional integration exists to ensure that digital tools genuinely improve service delivery rather than introduce additional bureaucracy.

In Guyana’s 2026 national budget, the government allocated G$159.1 billion to the housing sector to support the development of new housing schemes, infrastructure, and the construction of thousands of homes across the country. The funding is expected to facilitate the delivery of approximately 8,000 new homes and the allocation of about 15,000 house lots during the year as the government seeks to address the housing demand.

The housing programme is largely implemented through the CH&PA, the state agency responsible for developing housing schemes, allocating house lots to citizens, regulating building and land use planning, and overseeing residential community development. CH&PA also manages key housing initiatives, including land development, housing construction programmes, and planning approvals to ensure orderly and sustainable urban development.