TRANSPORT and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, has submitted to Cabinet the report on the designs, quantities, estimates and the tender documents for the construction of a US$2M hospice for the homeless.

Speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet briefing, in Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon said the modern complex will be built at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.

He said it will include dormitory style arrangements and would accommodate well over 100 persons, of both male and female sex, in separate sections.

Luncheon said the place, which, perhaps, will be the long term residence for the destitute, is to have facilities for recreation, medical care and physical work related activities for such as planting.

He said, presumably, the decision to take up residence there will be made by the street dwellers because the shelter is not a prison and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security cannot restrict their in and out movement.

“I suspect that persons could voluntarily assign themselves to the home for the homeless and seek admission to the institution. So, I could see there will, probably, be a number of different ways in which a homeless person can get in,” Luncheon speculated.

He said it is not intended to be a half way or a quarter way home, as efforts will not be made to train people in any skill area to enter the workforce.

It would serve merely as a shelter for the homeless and will include activities to keep them active, the HPS pointed out.

He said Cabinet Ministers, notably Human Services and Social Security Minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand have been visiting the destitute at night, offering them possible interventions which can be made available by the State to help out their situation.

Luncheon said this is one approach that will be used in seeking out potential inmates for the new multi-million dollar home when it comes on stream.