The Ministry of Housing on Monday commissioned the last of four multi-purpose buildings erected under the EU/LIHP programme, at Westminster, West Bank Demerara.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the initiative is part of a component of the European Union’s Low Income Housing Programme (EU/LIPH) which was launched in 2004 to support the Low Income Housing Sector.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Emil McGarell said the $29.5M facility “will serve to consolidate a major aspect of the ministry’s thrust, which is the formation of fully organised communities with infrastructure and community services.”
Chief Executive Officer at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Myrna Pitt said the overall objective of the programme is to improve access to affordable housing for low income groups and enhance existing settlements through community participation. The establishment of multi-purpose facilities is seen as a way to promote social cohesion among the residents in these new housing areas, the release said.
According to GINA, another aspect of the EU/LIPH is the implementation of skills training and capacity building to facilitate job creation and small-scale income generation in an effort to boost residents’ standard of living. The training was held in Sophia D, Cummings Lodge C, Cummings Lodge Y, Westminster, Onderneeming and Belle West. “It is not just about infrastructure, the community component of this programme is important and has so far been very successful,” Pitt said.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall said his ministry has a critical role to play in the management of all communities countrywide. He urged residents to use the facility in a manner that will maintain it as a “safe community space”.
Ambassador of the European Commission Geert Heikens said, “The building that we are commissioning today is part of our efforts of not just constructing low cost houses but, also to develop the people in this community. It will give you the opportunity to exchange, arrange, organise, and learn.”
In addition, Region Three Regional Chairman Julius Faerber urged residents to care the building. He said a contract will soon be awarded to have it fenced. Similar facilities were also constructed at Belle West, Glasgow, and Cummings Lodge. Each measures about 960 sq. feet and comprises two floors, complete with five rooms, a stage and an auditorium, the release said, adding that a 40-foot long pavilion is attached to each building to house the sanitary block.
