Reg 5 Residents Benefit From Steel and Cement Initiative.

September 24, 2024 – Sixty-two residents of Region Five received Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy vouchers today, each valued at $225,000, to aid in the construction of their homes.

The vouchers were distributed by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, during an outreach at the Regional Housing Office in Fort Wellington.

Accompanied by Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally, Minister Rodrigues emphasized that this initiative, spearheaded by President Irfaan Ali, is aimed at reducing the financial burden on landowners who own property but struggle to begin building their homes. “The goal is to ensure that people move beyond landownership to homeownership,” the Minister said.

With over 36,000 house lots allocated across the country in the past four years, Minister Rodrigues highlighted the importance of such programs in helping landowners take the next step toward owning a home.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Deochand Singh, expressed his gratitude, saying the voucher will help him provide a better life for his family, including his two children, ages eight and ten. “I feel happy. I think it’s a great initiative from the government, and it will assist us in building our home,” said Singh.

Ms. Shellita Bissoon, another recipient, shared her excitement, noting that the support brings her closer to achieving her dream of homeownership.

This initiative is crucial for aspiring homeowners facing financial challenges. By reducing the cost of essential building materials such as steel and cement, the program enables more individuals to move forward with construction.

Under the program, those building homes valued at $6 million or less receive steel and one sling of cement for their foundation, while homes valued between $6 million and $25 million benefit from two slings of cement.