His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali, at a recent outreach, disclosed that housing and community development along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway will be high on the agenda of the Government in 2025.
Addressing a gathering at Silver Hill on the highway, he said the developments in the pipeline, including new housing settlements, upgraded infrastructure, and enhanced access to governmental services, will create opportunities for economic growth and improvement to the livelihoods of residents.
The President said that more persons are migrating to the highway, especially due to the developmental aspects in placeand the additional connections being built to the East Bank.
Through collaborations between the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), the President said that his Government will develop almost 2000 house lots on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
“We’re going to try to create about 1500 to 2000 lots…so that we can have persons living in a cluster in a settlement format, rather than squatting, so you can have access to all the facilities and have excellent service within those communities. We want to ensure that we build the conditions that will give your children a better future than you would have had.”
He added that while there is a focus on community-level development, his administration is simultaneously looking at attracting commercial and industrial-scale investments to the area. Already, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) is setting up a local dairy farm at Moblissa, which will provide employment to community residents. The President explained that an $800mfood hub will also be constructed, providing an easy and reliable market for farmers in the area.
“That is a hub in which we want farmers to be able to bring their produce so that we can add value to those produce, extend the shelf life and create markets for you.”
Community Investments
President Ali, while addressing another gathering at Timehri, stressed that resources will be made available for the upgrading of the community centre ground, the market and the health centre in the area.
He stressed that while major developments are taking place in the neighbourhood, such as the expansion of the airport, the construction of a new hotel, and other commercial activities, attention must also be given to community development.
“We want to focus heavily on community investment, how we can help the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) with resources so that they could be more involved, they could be better equipped. How can we equip the community to help maintain infrastructure and community security? How is it that we can enhance and beautify the community? Because all of this adds to the value of life, all of this adds to the quality of life, all of this adds to the value of your homes.”
Similarly, the President told residents of Garden of Eden and Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara that his Government will increase its spending in communities, explaining thatbudgetary allocations have been made to facilitate this spending in 2025.
In the 2025 Budget, the Government has allocated $112.6bn for the housing sector.
“So, this year, I’ve asked the Minister of Finance to focus heavily on community investment. To let us in this year, focus on further strengthening communities, empowering communities, giving communities more resources, making more resources available at the community level.”
At Friendship, he pledged to address issues of drainage, construction of roads and to work with persons to resolve longstanding land issues. While at Garden of Eden, he said the Government would address issues of deplorable roads, clogged drains, needed street lights and low water pressure.
President Ali also visited several communities on the East Coast of Demerara over the last few weeks to discuss community development and enhancement.
