New $29.5M multi-purpose centre baffles residents

Feb 16, 2011 News

The $29.5M multi-purpose centre at Area ‘C’ Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, which was commissioned last week by Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, is a source of bewilderment to the residents of the area.
They claim that the centre has been commissioned even as the playfield is a swamp and would render the centre useless for the purpose for which it was built.
According to the residents, “Children would be unable to use the playfield which is being used as a fish pond by some.”
Residents were of the opinion that the money spent on the building is excessive. There is no fence and the compound is a swamp at certain parts. “Is what people could sit on those benches and really watch? They could only watch animals walking up and down.”

A front view of the building

According to the Ministry of Housing, the establishment of multi-purpose facilities is seen as a way to promote social cohesion among the residents in these new housing areas. However, residents in the area further said that they hope that the building does not end up being another “white elephant.”
Similar facilities were also constructed at Belle West, Glasgow in Canal Number 2, and Westminster, West Bank Demerara. Each is a two-flat structure measuring about 960 sq. feet. They have five rooms, a stage and an auditorium.
Additionally, a 40-foot long pavilion is attached to each building, which is also provided with sanitary facilities. When these specifications were inspected and analyzed it was illogical to reach a sum of $29.5M.
The European Union and the Government of Guyana, through the Minister of Finance, were responsible for the construction of the multi-purpose building at Cummings Lodge. The contractor was Kares Engineering Inc of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, and was supervised by Central Housing and Planning Authority.
It was also noted that the commencement date for the project was November, 27, 2009, and the completion date was April 31, 2010.
When this publication visited the edifice it was also noted that it was empty. When a comparison was made with another building that has three bedrooms, a toilet and bath, a living room, a kitchen and a verandah, the owner of that building gave the cost of his building as $5M. The owner said that if he had $29.5M he could easily have constructed five houses.