The Ministry of Housing and Water – Central Housing & Planning Authority signed over $163 million in contracts for Home Improvement Subsidies and Core Home Support in La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Andre Ally; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves; and Director of Projects, Mr. Omar Narine, attended the signing on Friday, in Ministry’s Boardroom.
Minister Croal, stated that the two components, which fall under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP) are funded through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to improve housing conditions.
“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.”
He also emphasized the importance of the programme for enhancing mobility and safety in vulnerable communities. The Minister in his statement also urged the contractors to put their best foot forward in ensuring the projects are delivered in a quality and time-efficient manner.
CEO Greaves further explained that twenty-five (25) core homes will be built through this phase of the programme in La Parfaite Harmonie and one hundred and eighteen (118) home improvement subsidies will be granted.
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, water connections, etc. The homes are designed to meet basic standards that a family can move into and affordably expand over time. The contract was awarded to Cemax Procurement and Contracting – Lot 7 ($10,881,287) and Mike and Daughters Lumberyard – Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 ($54,257,545).
Meanwhile, the home improvement subsidies will be $500,000 granted in the form of building materials for repairs to walls, floors, electrical works, and sanitation improvements, among others. Lots 1-5 of this contract was awarded to Tristar Industries Inc. at a sum of $98,920,225.
