The Ministry of Housing and Water yesterday signed contracts totalling $163 million for the construction of 25 core homes and over 100 home improvement projects at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
The initiatives are part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$10 million Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme.
The contract for the construction of the core homes was put out for tendering and awarded to Tristar Industries Inc.
Two separate contracts were signed for home improvement subsidies. These contracts were awarded to Cemax Procurement and Contracting in the sum of $10 million, and Mike and Daughters Lumberyard in the sum of $54.2 million.
During brief remarks, Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer Sherwyn Greaves said that 25 core homes will be constructed, while 118 home improvement subsidies have been granted.
“These projects will benefit a lot of people, deserving people, in our society who have been waiting a long time for assistance and these will go a far way in bringing support to these persons,” he said.
He stressed to the contractors providing the building materials for the home improvement subsidies to be reminded “who they are doing this for”.
“To ensure that you put your best foot forward and to ensure that these people benefit the way they should,” Greaves added.
The core homes will be no less than 330 square feet single-family homes with concrete blocks for the outer walls and floors, basic doors, windows, electrical wiring, and water connections, among other things. These homes are designed to meet basic standards that a family can move into and affordably expand over time.
Meanwhile, the home improvement subsidies are valued at $500,000 granted each in the form of building materials for repairs to walls, floors, electrical works and sanitation improvements.
Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal noted that the project is significant since it intends to improve the quality of life for citizens by providing access to adequate housing and basic infrastructure for low-income populations. “This programme has been reformulated, as part of our goal to provide sustainable and affordable housing, as well as, access to basic infrastructure for Guyanese, particularly those in low-income communities,” Croal said.
In addition, Croal announced that residents from La Parfaite Harmonie are also expected to benefit from at least 10 kilometers of road works, which will begin soon. “This will bring great relief for the people of Parfaite Harmonie… there are a lot of complains about the roads,” he said.
He further stated that permission was also recently granted for the expansion of the project boundary.
The expanded boundary will see the inclusion of 19 communities on the East Coast of Demerara, up to Victoria.
The programme previously encompassed communities from Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, up to La Bonne Intention on the East Coast of Demerara and Westminster, Onderneeming, Recht-Door-Zee, Lust en Rust, and Parfaite Harmonie Phase II on the WBD.
Croal took the opportunity to urge all pending applicants to be patient. “We are committed to clearing the backlog, especially for persons who are waiting years in the system. So that is what we intend to do. It is a continuous process,” he said.
