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Govt to focus on apartment buildings, mini-malls in major housing drive
Government has released over 250 acres of lands in Demerara to target low cost housing, including apartment buildings in a housing drive that aims to do things differently.
Government is moving to introduce what it says is a more modern way of building housing communities.
Already, the Ministry of Communities, which is charged with overseeing the housing sector, has moved to invite offers for the construction of apartment buildings, infrastructural works and recreational facilities.
The housing projects, expected to be in the billions of dollars, will be completed in three phases, according to a Ministry of Communities “Invitation For Expressions of Interest” advertisement that appeared in Sunday’s Kaieteur News.
Since taking office last year, the Coalition Government had signaled sweeping reforms to the housing sectors to ensure that homeowners don’t wait a long time to access their new homes or to have infrastructure in place until years later.
As a matter of fact, the administration said that it wanted to move beyond mere housing scheme– the intent is to build complete communities.
In the past, because of a shortage of resources and the huge demand for homes and house lots, the previous administration under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), had distributed house lots without the necessary infrastructures like roads, drainage, bridges and utilities in place. It had left both the administration and homeowners with headaches.
According to the advertisement, Government is planning to embark on several projects emanating from its strategic objective as it relates to housing for low income and state employees along the East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara and Georgetown, Region Four.
According to the advertisement, the developmental approach involves and encompasses Public/Private Partnerships with developers and the Government of Guyana for the implementation of the projects.
It will involve financing from Government and the developers, as well as mixture of both. Interested bidders have until November 22 to submit proposals to the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
The projects will include three phases. The first one will see the execution of infrastructural development works- land preparation, construction of roads, drains, structures, heavy duty bridges, installation of pure water distribution network and installation and construction of electrical networks.
In the second phase, Government will move for the construction of apartment buildings-up to four stories- as well as single flat houses.
The third phase will focus on the construction of social infrastructure. These include recreational and commercial facilities. The latter include mini malls, educational facilities, health and environmental facilities–for example: a waste treatment facility.
According to the Ministry of Communities, the areas comprise undeveloped lands at Little and Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara and La Penitence, Georgetown
At the Diamond area, the Ministry disclosed that some 150 acres previously under cane will be made available.
At Cummings Lodge, almost 100 acres previously under sugar cane cultivation will be released.
Meanwhile at La Penitence, just over two acres will be up for development.
Many housings schemes are still incomplete with basic things like police outposts absent.
A new Board of Directors at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), which is tasked with overseeing housing development in Guyana, has been mapping a new way of handling the sector in Guyana.
A report of a forensic audit was recently completed into past CH&PA’s transactions.
This time around, developers have some tough criteria to ensure developers toe the line.
In the past, poor monitoring and questionable spending had raised concerns about billions expended in the housing sector.
In addition to tax and other documents, developers will have to show experience in construction with the necessary staffers and equipment.
The East Bank and East Coast as well as West Coast of Demerara, have been areas in high demand for housing.
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