APNU Coalition

𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐆𝐔𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘

The PNCR/APNU expresses deep concern over the escalating housing crisis confronting thousands of young Guyanese, who are increasingly finding that the dream of owning a home is becoming more distant with each passing year.

Guyana is experiencing unprecedented oil revenues, yet for many young professionals, teachers, nurses, police officers, public servants and private sector employees, the prospect of securing safe, affordable housing has become little more than an illusion since oil money is not meeting the people.

Today, modest apartments with few amenities, and in some cases, no proper security, parking, or modern conveniences, are advertised for US$500, US$700 and even US$1,000 per month. At prevailing exchange rates, these rents amount to approximately G$105,000, G$147,000 and G$210,000 respectively. These prices consume a significant share of a Guyanese person’s income and, in many instances, exceed what minimum wage earners take home in an entire month.

Young Guyanese are repeatedly told to "save for a mortgage." Yet this advice ignores reality. How does a young person save the substantial deposit required by financial institutions while simultaneously paying rent, transportation, utilities, groceries, internet, childcare, emergency expenses, and the ever-increasing cost of living? Too often, they are expected to save for a deposit from whatever crumbs remain after meeting the basic necessities of life. It is for this reason that the APNU manifesto focuses on rent-to-own housing programmes to help the poor and vulnerable.

Applicants frequently wait years for the allocation of house lots through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), forcing many into the private market where land prices have escalated beyond the reach of average Guyanese families. Today, a standard 50 × 100-foot residential lot in many parts of the country can cost anywhere from G$5 million to G$10 million, while lots in more established or desirable communities routinely command G$15 million or more. That is before a single block is laid. Those who manage to purchase land must then confront the soaring cost of cement, steel, lumber, roofing materials, electrical supplies, plumbing fixtures, doors, windows, tiles, and furnishings. Added to this are escalating contractor and labour costs, all while continuing to pay rent until construction is completed.

The financial burden does not end once the keys are collected. Homeowners must also meet mortgage repayments, insurance, rates and taxes, utilities, maintenance, security, and the ongoing costs associated with preserving their investment. All while many workers receive annual salary increases of just 5–10%, far below the escalating cost of housing, and are expected to depend on periodic cash grants rather than policies that deliver lasting financial security.

A responsible government would recognise that the housing market cannot be left entirely to market forces when those forces are pricing ordinary citizens out of decent housing. There is ample room for sensible policies that promote affordability, increase access to housing, and encourage fairness within the rental market. Yet the PPPC Government has failed to act with the urgency this crisis demands.

One cannot help but ask: why is there such resistance to meaningful reforms that would ease the burden on renters and first-time homeowners? The Government owes the people an answer.

Equally troubling is the Government's continued refusal to align wages and benefits with the realities of life in an oil-producing nation. Guyana has the financial capacity to ensure that hardworking citizens can enjoy a decent standard of living. In the second quarter of 2026 alone, Guyana received approximately US$1.23 billion (G$257 billion) in oil revenues, which were deposited into the Natural Resources Fund. These unprecedented revenues demonstrate that the resources exist to improve wages, strengthen housing support and provide meaningful relief to the Guyanese people. We submit that a serious review of salaries, taxation, housing support, and social benefits is not only possible, but it is entirely affordable given the country's unprecedented oil revenues.

The true tragedy is that this crisis is eroding hope.

Young people who aspire to own a home before starting a family now see that dream slipping further away. Young couples delay marriage because they cannot afford a place of their own. Professionals who have done everything society asked of them, that is, earned qualifications, secured employment, worked diligently and lived responsibly are discovering that home ownership is no longer an achievable milestone but an increasingly distant dream.

This is not the future our young people deserve.

The PNCR/APNU therefore calls upon the PPP/C Government to place their ego and pride aside and put the Guyanese people first above politics and to seriously consider APNU's comprehensive housing proposals outlined in our 2025 Election Manifesto. These proposals include measures to accelerate access to house lots, reduce waiting times, lower the qualifying age for house lot applications, reintroduce rent-to-own opportunities, provide mortgage assistance, offer rent assistance to eligible renters, and expand support for home ownership and home improvement.

If the PPP/C Government refuses to seriously engage with practical solutions that would make housing more affordable and accessible despite Guyana's unprecedented wealth, then they must answer a simple question:

Are you really Putting People First?

Failure to act would be a clear admission that, despite their rhetoric, the well-being of ordinary Guyanese is not a priority for the PPP/C Government.