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Guyana, Venezuela ink US$2M contract for homeless shelter
Walter Willis, Technical Advisor, Ministry of Public Works and Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana Dario Morandy at the site which will soon accommodate a $$400 M residential homeless shelter.
On Monday Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, Works Minister Robeson Benn along with Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Dario Morandy, singed a $400 M contract for a residential homeless shelter.
The contracts were signed and handed over to the three contractors at the Mahaica- Mahaicony-Abary Regional Office at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.
The contracts, which will see works commencing within another month, were handed over to the contractors, Narindra Lachman, Shazam Hussein and Rudolph Ross.
The entire project has been divided into five lots which have been further divided among the contractors.
The first lot (Lot 3) which will see the construction of the maintenance building and the security huts has been awarded to Narindra Lachman at a cost of $39.5 million. Lachman was also awarded Lot 1 of the contract which will see the construction of the Administration building and a sick bay at a cost of $67.7 million
Shazam Hussein was awarded Lot 2 of the project which includes the construction of the male and female dorms, which will be housed in separate buildings
This contractor is also responsible for the mess hall which will be constructed at a total cost of $141.1 million.
Lots 4 and 5 of the project have been awarded to Rudolph Ross. They entail the furnishing and equipping of the entire facility at a cost of $41.9 million, and the external works on the facility, including infrastructure at a cost of $53.2 million.
Works are to be completed in August of next year.
Upon the signing and handing over of the contract, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana Dario Morandy, said he is pleased to be a part of such an initiative. He noted that this further goes to show his Government continued commitment to Guyana.
Morandy added that the Venezuelan Government is not only looking for a pretty building but hopes to see the full effectiveness of the project.
He further called on his local counterparts to do all in their power to make the facility friendly to those who will be there so that they will be better able to reintegrate back into society.
Through his interpreter, Morandy expressed hope of the project meeting all the social needs it is intended to.
Meanwhile Minister of Human Service and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, lauded the initiative noting that the Guyana Government is heartened by this gesture.
“This goes to show that we have other countries which are interested in assisting vulnerable people,” Minister Manickchand said.
She further urged the contractors to carry out their job in an efficient and timely manner.
“We hope we don’t have get any bad reports on the contractors because we will not hesitate to do so, we will not tolerate any cost cutting methods,” the Minister stressed.
Her sentiments were reinforced by Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn who urged the contractors to do the job for which they are being paid and in a timely matter.
“Not because we have given you nine months, you will take the entire nine months. If the works can be done faster then let it be,” Minsiter Benn said.
The shelter will accommodate 200 males and 100 females in separate dormitory facilities. Other buildings will include a medical facility to house a resident doctor and nurse, mess hall and kitchen, training room/conference hall, recreation centre, persons staying there would be trained in life skills.
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