12 young professional homes handed over in Prospect, EBD

– as part of govt’s affordable housing programme here on the East Bank ,” he said. school consistently.

Twelve young professionals were handed the keys to their newly constructed homes in Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on March 16, 2023.

Meanwhile, Ms Kim Spencer, Curriculum Subject Specialist – Information Technology, noted that the robotics component of the programme will not only see the learners getting a chance to work in groups with their friends to assemble robots, but the literacy aspect will play a big role in the robotics component as the children will have to read and comprehend the instructions to build the robots correctly while still having fun.

Further, Regional Chairman of Region Three, Mr Inshan Ayube, commended the told parents that Minister Manickchand is committed to providing equal and equitable educational opportunities. In February, the programme was officially launched at the Den Amstel Primary School. These four schools form part of the programme’s pilot.

The single flat three-bedroom units were officially handed over by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, along with Steven Jacobs, Director of First Change Builders, the contractor responsible for the construction of the homes.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister Croal highlighted the significance of the occasion, stating that the units are among the first set of young professional homes to be distributed to beneficiaries in Prospect, where the government is also constructing other categories of homes. “You can have appreciation as to what is taking place, this small community here. When we started the development, it was actually taken over by bush, it was taken over by cows… now you can see the total transformation

The minister emphasised that this year has been identified as a crucial time for the construction of houses, with a focus on expanding and building as much as possible, rather than just allocating house lots.

Around 600 houses have already been handed over, and there are currently at least 1, 400 houses under construction in various phases and categories, Minister Croal reported. “We have different model of houses we are constructing. More young professional houses are being built currently. We just started another set, 100 plus on the East Coast,” he stated.

While explaining the allocation process, Minister Croal explained that it involves a pre-qualification process with the banks. Once applicants have been pre-qualified, the contractors are then able to build the houses.

The minister also dis - closed that the government is working to ensure that the cost of these houses remains affordable despite the increased costs for housing materials.

The contactor expressed gratitude to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and the banks for their support in making the project a success. He acknowledged that the project was a learning curve for him and the company. “A lot of persons in Guyana you know, obviously want to own a home but to get one of these young professionals. I think it’s a dream come true to anybody because I think it’s very inexpensive,” he said.

With affordable housing being a priority for the government, the young professional homes provide a sense of security and comfort, offering a good start in life for the owners.

The delivery of homes in Prospect marks a major milestone in the government’s dedication to offering affordable housing to its people and enhancing the quality of their lives.