Duplexes being completed for ‘Housing Solutions 2017 and Beyond’

The Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) is preparing to host ‘Housing Solutions 2017 and Beyond’ next month.

For this initiative, the Authority is spearheading the construction of 10 low income, five moderate income and eight middle-income houses to be on exhibition at the event at the Perseverance housing scheme on the East Bank of Demerara (E.B.D). The agency is also completing six duplexes and two single units, with existing resources from its 1000 homes project.

Media operatives were today (Monday, April 24, 2017), given a tour of the model village.

Project Manager, Kennard Dazzell noted that “these buildings basically have varying floor capacity which is larger than the previous model which we were going with, which is the 600 single flat buildings under the 1000 homes program. What we did also, we took the same 1000 homes 600sq ft model, and we’ve elevated that.”

The aim of the project is to provide persons with a home as opposed to a house lot. The area will also include a playfield and other facilities necessary in a community.

However, one of the concerns raised in the past is the quality of works that will be executed since there are some wooden structures being completed.

According to Dazzell, the team has learned from its experiences in the past. “We’ve reinforced in terms of the type of materials…we’re selecting the timber because a lot of people got some concerns about it, so we’ve actually went around, check out a few suppliers and we select the materials, we send the guys to the suppliers’ lumber yard and then of course, what we do…if the material comes, we handpick, if it’s not of the standards we looking at, we send it back. So you definitely will be able to maybe put our stamp of approval on this, to give the beneficiaries that they can be satisfied with and a product that we can stand by,” the Project Manager said.

He added that at the location, approximately 400 men are currently employed.

It must be noted that persons intending to purchase the homes must have an application at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

The assurance was also given that the buildings will be affordable.

The 10 low income, five moderate income and eight middle-income houses are being constructed by 14 private contractors with whom the Ministry signed contracts on Tuesday, (February 21, 2017).

One of the companies is utilising a fireproof material to complete its project. At the Expo to be hosted from May 01-05, persons will have an opportunity to view the materials.

“For the Expo, this is just to highlight the various options out there, the models, the solutions, but before the expo actually, we will still be rolling out some of the program…because we don’t want to wait until all of the information comes in before you make a start. Time is of the essence, there is a need for development, and I think this is the direction now we’ll be going so you’ll see we been making those starts” the Project Manager explained.

Earmarked for the building of duplexes are Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward in Linden, Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Ordnance Fortlands, Berbice among others.