The Ministry of Housing and Water, on Tuesday, signed off on over 199 contracts worth $13.9 billion for infrastructure works and the construction of houses which now represents the largest committed investment in the housing sector in one year.
Some $12B will go towards new infrastructure works while the remaining will go towards housing construction. The project will make 10,000 house lots available for homeownership in keeping with the PPP/C’s manifesto. Meanwhile, 290 homes will come in the year’s first quarter.
The contracts were signed at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) and there was no sole-sourcing.
At the ceremony, numerous contractors were present. Remarks came from Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues; Minister with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and others from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
Minister Croal, in his remarks, said that 8,900 allottees are expected to benefit from the project.
“Let me offer my deep appreciation for all the persons that worked tirelessly to bring us to this stage and to prepare the contract documents that will be signed today,” the Minister said.
All of the works approved were tendered and passed through a competitive bidding process. In his congratulations to contractors who will now work along with the Ministry, Croal also cautioned them that the Ministry expects their highest performance.
He said: “Our government has high expectations for efficiency and maximizing value. I expect that you will put forward your best work for the benefit of the citizens of this country.”
In the coming months, he said that the Ministry will continue to work with its technical team, the Guyana Water Inc., and the private sector to address other challenges such as those related to water coverage and backlogged housing information.
In his remarks, Dr. Singh said that he is pleased to be witnessing the historic occasion and he looks forward to seeing the development of Guyana’s housing sector through the project. He highlighted that it is the approval of Budget 2021 that has afforded Guyanese and the Government this opportunity.
“I’m very, very pleased that we’ve been able to take this step so quickly to get us to the point where contracts are now being awarded and will be executed,” he said. “We really are witnessing the making of history and the building of the new Guyana.”
Meanwhile, Minister Rodrigues said that the contracts signed on Tuesday represent the Government’s commitment to its manifesto and improving the lives of Guyanese.
