By Ariana Gordon

Over $100 million will be spent by the Board of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to correct defective work done by contractors on turnkey houses in the Providence and Perseverance areas, East Bank Demerara.

Board Chairman Hamilton Green told reporters at a media briefing on Thursday that works are likely to begin within two weeks and noted that many of the recipients of those houses have been forced to live elsewhere.

According to Green, members of the CH&PA Board visited the two communities and were taken aback by the magnitude of defective houses handed over to persons.

“Two Saturdays ago we met allottees of Perseverance here and there was a series of tears and stories of trials and tribulations. Bad roofs, leaking roofs, doors that don’t function as doors, paint peeling, sanitary facilities which don’t provide the basics, septic tanks which were porous and ineffective, floors that were doing a special dance. We met a lady at Providence who lifted her linoleum and told us how much she spent hoping to live in some kind of decent environment but that did not happen,” recounted Green.

Green, a former Mayor, said the housing programme initiated under the former People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration was not properly planned.

“Members of staff who we questioned about this unhappy situation said to us openly and privately that they were instructed by the previous administration to build houses. The impression I get is that there was no planning, no technical input and a lack of professionalism which resulted in the horror stories.”

He said the Housing Programme the APNU-AFC administration has inherited was “ill-conceived” and could not deliver to the beneficiaries that which was touted and expected.

“That inheritance has left us with a number of horror stories. We met persons at Perseverance and Providence who had moved into their homes but because of unsatisfactory conditions had moved out,” Green said.

He noted that the CH&PA has noted the complaints of all turnkey home owners and will be addressing the situation, noting that thus far some areas have benefitted from corrective work by the agency, but there is a plethora of problems.

“It is our view and we will be proposing to the minister and Government that it is not sane or sensible for us to continue using the same methodology which has provided these horrible experiences for people who want to settle down…”

Currently, the CH&PA is receiving technical assistance from Bert Carter, an engineer with 50 years’ experience but it was discovered during investigation that the members of staff said they were instructed by the previous administration to build the houses despite the issues.

CANNOT BE PENALISED

“We have decided to take affective corrective measures even though it will cost the authority many millions of dollars,” said Green who noted that the Board was informed that contractors cannot be penalised for the faulty work as that period has passed.

“This Board and Government are committed no matter what the past errors may be to not allow those residents to suffer. We will pursue measures with the cooperation of the minister (of Communities with responsibility for Housing).”

Green said the Board will not be accepting that which existed in the past and will be looking at short term measures to correct the situation.

“The majority of homes or houses we found that the steps have started to take a journey away from the house and that the roof in some cases has taken a holiday away from the rest of the structure.”

Meanwhile, Carter told reporters that housing development in Guyana has reached a stage where communities are being built on land that was used for plantation purposes.

As such, the soil should have been tested and measures taken to ensure that they are not constructing the properties in swamps.

“Every square mile of cane field had 45miles of drainage… if you want to develop a housing scheme in those areas… it behooves you to determine if you in a swamp…” said Carter, who noted that after a soil test is completed, then a determination can be made on the best way forward.

He said he cannot fault the young engineers after he examined their designs relative to the two communities, but noted he was able to improve their designs.

“Their designs didn’t have any fault… it was in the construction. All these houses exhibit one feature… cracks of the wall…”

He believes that all contractors should be operating with the same code of practice and going forward, codes of practice will be drafted for all contractors, plumbers. “Everybody should have the same standard,” he added.