More than 400 exhibitors, including over 30 international participants and in excess of 100 small businesses, are showcasing their housing solutions and construction innovations at this year’s International Building Expo.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn made the disclosure during an invited comment yesterday as she interacted with attendees. She spoke with Kiskadee Watch at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara where the expo will continue until tomorrow under the theme, “Guyana at 60: Building strong foundations for a sustainable future.”
According to her, this time around, the ministry has managed to bring back the business expo seminar, which focuses on housing development and related sectors. She shared that at the first one held yesterday, presentations delivered included those from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on its services, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on its single-window system, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on waste management at construction sites, and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) on drainage in Georgetown and coastal areas.
Benn added that representatives from the UK’s King’s Foundation also spoke about their collaboration with the Government of Guyana to improve transportation systems.
One of the Guyanese businesses participating this year is GuyCrete (Guyana Concrete), based at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Director Ryan Rahaman told Kiskadee Watch that his company, which has been in operation for eight years, specialises in precast concrete products. While they initially focused on manufacturing concrete utility poles, he said their newest addition is that of precast drainage systems in six different sizes.
He explained that the precast drains are designed to serve as an alternative to traditional cast-in-place drainage structures, offering significant savings in labour, time and materials for both government projects and private contractors. According to Rahaman, the installation process involves preparing the site, adding and compacting sand fill, and then placing the precast drains, allowing projects to be completed much faster than the usual methods.
Rahaman noted that while constructing a drain using conventional methods can take up to two weeks and require continuous labour costs, a precast drain can be installed within a single day. He added that the company’s two-foot precast drain currently costs $105,000 per unit.
Meanwhile, also participating was Guyana Home Hub, a real estate website and mobile application launched approximately six months ago, that was created to address the challenges and risks associated with property listings on social media platforms such as Facebook Marketplace.
According to Administrative Manager Alphius Bookie, the platform was developed after its founders identified a gap in the local real estate market, where property transactions conducted through social media often lacked proper verification and were vulnerable to fraudulent activity. He said Guyana Home Hub verifies both agents and clients to provide users with a more secure and legitimate platform for buying, selling and renting properties.
Bookie explained that the platform serves as a one-stop hub for real estate transactions, allowing users to search for land, houses and rental properties through both its website and mobile application. He added that the platform was founded by Darren Buckner, who also played a key role in developing the application. According to Bookie, the app is currently free to use, with plans to introduce fees around October.
Meanwhile, Royonce Thomas, Legal Affairs Manager for Providence City Condos, said the development, which is being undertaken by a Chinese company, is located behind the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, opposite Greenfield. It comprises a total of 120 condominium units with the first phase nearing completion. The initial group of owners is expected to move in next month, followed by a second group in August and a third by the end of the year. The second phase of the development, she said, is expected to be completed by August 2027.
Thomas explained that the development will feature several amenities, including a swimming pool, gym and a commercial complex that will accommodate supermarkets, restaurants and office spaces. She said projects of this nature contribute to the country’s modernisation and reflect the direction in which Guyana’s housing sector should be evolving.
She shared that that much of the interest in the condominiums has come from Guyanese returning from overseas and business professionals. While obtaining land can be a lengthy and challenging process, she observed that many buyers prefer the convenience of purchasing a condominium despite the higher cost.
Thomas said the condominiums are priced between US$350,000 and US$600,000, equivalent to approximately G$75 million to G$120 million, and that flexible payment options are available to purchasers. It can also be resold eventually.
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