Infrastructural works in 18 new housing areas nearing completion

The Ministry of Housing and Water – Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) says infrastructural works being executed in 18 new housing schemes in Regions Four, Five and Six are on schedule for completion in February.

The works include the construction of access roads and bridges, and the clearing of lands in Prospect, Providence, Little Diamond/Great Diamond on the East Coast Demerara, and La Bonne Intention, Strathspey, Bladen Hall and Mon Repos on the East Bank Demerara.

In an interview with the DPI on Wednesday, CH&PA’s Director of Projects, Mr. Omar Narine said these works are expected to be completed by the first week in February.

Similar works are also ongoing in Experiment in Region Five, and Number 75, Number 79, Ordinance/Fortlands and Hampshire and Williamsburg in Region six.

The agency also received funds to drill two new wells to supply some of the areas with potable water. Mr. Narine said these projects, which are being done in collaboration with the Guyana Water Authority, are about 60 per cent complete.

“For those 18 areas, we are purchasing transformers and electrical line hardware materials so that when we get on to the land, we can install the electrical network and the water network simultaneously,” Mr. Narine added.

He explained that these works are part of the first phase of infrastructural works in those areas.

In the 2021 budget, the agency is requesting more funds to complete the internal road networks in these housing schemes.

Additionally, infrastructural works are ongoing in existing housing areas in Regions Three and Four. Once these are completed, the communities will officially be handed over to the respective Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC).

“We are trying to consolidate some of the infrastructure there and hand over to the NDC whereby we are currently doing works in Zeelugt, Parfaite Harmonie, Belle West, Farm, Covent Garden, Providence, Herstelling, Good Hope, Nonpareil and Mon Repos. Works are ongoing in all those areas and are slated to be completed by January 31.”

Some $1.7 billion from Budget 2020 was allocated to the CHPA for land acquisition and to make serviced lots available.