The Ministry of Housing and Water through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), on Tuesday handed over a recreational facility to the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
A release from the CH&PA said that the recreational facility consists of a full-size basketball court with markings, a concrete walkway, sanitary blocks fitted with overhead water tanks, a solar LED lighting system and concrete drains, swing sets, slides and monkey bars and ladder and seesaw. The perimeter is designed with a chain-link fence and blockwork; on its eastern and western boundaries are the entry and exit gates, which are decorated with paintings and finishes. CHPA’s CEO, Sherwyn Greaves, handed over the symbolic key to Anand Kaladeen, Chairman of the NDC.
The CEO said that the realization of this recreational facility is the first of more to come, as several communities across the country including, Parfaite Harmonie (Region Three), Sophia and Herstelling (Region Four) and Amelia’s Ward (Region Ten) will also benefit. Greaves noted that the mandate of the Ministry of Housing and Water’s CH&PA embraces the delivery of holistic communities, and not just serviced house lots.
NDC Chair Kaladeen express-ed his delight at finally being given jurisdiction for the facility, as he spoke of plans for further enhancement. “We intend to enhance it so that people can benefit, we intend to extend the walkway, we will add some more swings and slides, we are thankful.”
Also present for the handing over was Deputy Director of the Com-munity Development Department, Donell Bess-Bascom, who noted the importance of partnership in realising development plans for communities across the country. The project was initially executed by Compustruct Engineering Inc. with an expenditure of $5.2 million. How-ever, Compustruct’s contract was terminated and the project was then handed over to and completed by Prestige Engineering & Support Services. The value of the project was then increased to $14.3 million.
