Some $13 million in contracts were signed on Saturday to begin construction of 10 wooden elevated houses in Smith Creek, Region One (Barima-Waini) under the Hinterland Housing Programme.
The three contracts were signed by the Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC), Sherman Lewis, and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) for the supply of labour, timber, sand and stone, a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) said.
The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of a community outreach by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal at the Mabaruma Learning and Resource Centre.
Croal said the project is a fulfillment of a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali when he visited the riverine community during the election campaign in 2019.
The minister committed to improving water access to mitigate water-related health issues.
“We will seek to assist that area or bring some semblance to Smith Creek with the assistance of some houses to be constructed.
“The environment of Smith Creek cannot continue how it is and similarly, we will be making interventions to ensure that they have a proper source of water so that we can eliminate some health concerns,” he stated.
Each unit will consist of three bedrooms and measure approximately 20 x 25 feet. The CDC Chair expressed satisfaction that the PPP/C Administration is honouring its commitment.
Vulnerable persons and pensioners are being targeted to benefit from the housing project and the community has agreed which persons will benefit.
