Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, accompanied by senior personnel, yesterday made an on-site inspection of the new headquarters under construction for the housing and water ministry, a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) stated yesterday.
Situated at the Houston, along the Mandela to Eccles Highway, East Bank Demerara, the complex will comprise two buildings – one designated to host the ministry’s secretariat, and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), while the other will serve as the headquarters for the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). The five-storey housing ministry building is being constructed at a cost of $741.5 million, while the four-story GWI building will amount to $562 million, DPI said.
Following the inspection, Croal noted the growing mandate of the ministry, which necessitated a larger and more modern building to accommodate the expanding staff.
“Our staff keeps increasing so we have an issue of accommodation so we are trying to push the contractor to be able to complete in time.”
The minister also addressed the ongoing construction at the housing ministry’s building. “The building is five floors and they are at the second floor… A lot of persons have been asking, they haven’t been seeing activities, and that is because the contractor is awaiting some additional materials that have now arrived and they will recommence work.”
With the frame of the building expected to be completed by mid-year, Croal reported that all aspects of the construction are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
“The projected completion would be by the middle of this year, but in terms of the other amenities, air conditioning…you have to put in cubicles et cetera, to accommodate the new office spaces. So, what we are aiming for is that the new year [2025] we must start in this new location.”
According to DPI, the minister emphasised that the new building is expected to streamline the ministry’s operations, boosting efficiency and effectiveness. Centralising all offices in one location will simplify business transactions for individuals, he noted. However, the projects department with approximately 200 members of staff will be housed at the existing location.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves, noted that between 400 to 500 persons visit the office daily. “There wouldn’t be this clustered and this cramped environment anymore so it will be a pleasure visiting, its already a pleasure when you go for an allocation, but it will be an added pleasure of the atmosphere and the ambience that you would get when you visit the institution.”
With the construction of the new GWI headquarters having commenced, Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh spoke of efforts to encourage the contractor to complete the work before the 18-month contract duration. “We feel that will be adequate to complete the building and do the yard work in terms of the parking, air condition and everything so that GWI can move very quickly to occupy this building quickly.”
Currently, GWI is renting four buildings across Georgetown to accommodate its officers, incurring a significant cost.
Croal also reiterated that the aim is to have both agencies occupying the new headquarters in the new year. The release added
The minister’s site tour appears to be in response to questions from Shadow Minister – Housing and Water, Annette Ferguson MP in a letter in the March 9th edition of Stabroek News. These included the snail’s pace of the project which seems to have come to a halt, the absence of billboards, and the absence of a sod- turning ceremony (which is common for these types of projects). The MP also accused the government of having a no coherent plan in rolling out projects, and instead, is in the business of “biting more than they can chew, hence the delays in project and shoddy works being done.” In short, she noted, a total wastage of taxpayers’ money.
