As works continue to progress smoothly in several sections in Sophia, Greater Georgetown under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme, Minister with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, was taken on a tour to get a firsthand look.
Leading the tour was Director of Projects Omar Narine, who was able to explain the scope of works being undertaken in the various Sections of Sophia.
The housing project is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank to the tune of US$27M and is being executed and managed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). The three tiers of the programme include Affordable and Sustainable Housing, which covers the home improvement subsidy and Core Home Programme; the Consolidation of existing Housing Scheme, which includes rehabilitation of roads, installation of climate-ready drains, street lights, upgrades to community facilities and construction of walkways; and the Implementation Support and institutional strengthening.
During the Minister’s visit to the various locations earlier yesterday, she was brought up to speed on the status of the various aspects being undertaken. On site were clerks of work, environmentalists, and engineers who were all able to provide information to the minister as it relates to ongoing works. The areas visited included Sections, A, B, C, and D Sophia where works are being done simultaneously and the scope of works include the construction of bridges, culverts, walkways, roads, and concrete drains.
While CH&PA, through various contracting firms, is executing the works, residents of the communities are being employed and will continue to be employed at different stages of the project.
Responding to questions posed by the minister, the engineers at every site reported that the residents have all been very receptive and supportive towards the projects despite the minor inconveniences caused by the ongoing works. However, there were a few instances where engineers and clerks of work reported concerns for their safety given the number of illegal electricity connections in the area.
The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme is being piloted in the Sophia housing area, with works being executed in an area of 174.7 hectares, spanning across Section A-Block X Liliendaal, Section B- Pattensen and Section C- Turkeyen. The interventions will include upgrading of approximately 11.055 km of roads to an asphalted concrete surface, construction of 1.8 km of reinforced concrete drains, construction of 22.11 km earthen drains, rehabilitation of 30 km of macro drains, construction of 2.132 of reinforced concrete walkways, construction of 82 culverts and eight interlinking bridges. In addition, 2 km of solar street lights will be installed in and around areas where social facilities are located.
Another key component of the project will see some 250 low-income households benefitting from core homes and another 2,000 families benefitting from home improvement subsidies.
