– Minister Irfaan Ali
MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali, yesterday, at the signing of the second batch of projects under the Low Income Settlement (LIS) Two programme, which will see over $655M invested, noted that contractors will be accountable to the people.
Speaking at the ministry’s boardroom, on Brickdam, Georgetown, he underscored, “Our commitment to delivering service to the people within the communities in terms of quality, openness, and efficiency, is paramount.” He alluded to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s New Year’s address when he made it very clear that this year, the administration will be focusing on value for money, ensuring that “our people are treated with respect in the various communities.”
“And I say this because lots of times contractors do not understand the responsibility they have to the communities they work in,” the minister observed.
He said under the second low income projects, the contractors will be accountable to the people, and in every community groups will be given documents to help the ministry keep tabs on the contractors’ work.
“At the end of the day, the ultimate beneficiary of these projects are the people, and they must have an integral and important say, a very, very integral say in what they accept,” he told the contractors.
Giving an update on the first batch of projects signed earlier this year, he noted that they are at various stages of completion.
“I must say that batch one under the low income two programme has been progressing very effectively,” he said.
He reminded that projects consisted of works at Tuschen Phase II, Section ‘D’ Sophia, Ordnance Fortlands Phase II, Area ‘B’ Lusignan, and Binkey Alley.
Ali said to date, Lot ‘1’ at Tuschen is approximately 70 per cent completed, and Lot ‘2’ 55 per cent; Section ‘D’ Sophia Lot ‘I’ 28 per cent completed, and Lot ‘2’ 32 per cent; Ordnance Fortlands Lot ‘I’ 55 per cent and Lot ‘2’ 80 per cent; Area ‘B’ Lusignan is 85 per cent finished; and Binkey Alley 50 per cent.
“We are expecting all of these projects to be completed long before the contract expiry date,” the minister anticipated.
He said the new set of projects under the second batch will bring benefits to almost 9,500 persons, and the projects are in three categories: new areas, existing areas, and regularized squatting areas.
He noted that they are required to expeditiously develop new areas for housing in Guyana as a result of the demand, and to meet the target of 17,000 that was set by President Jagdeo, himself.
Touching on the existing areas, he said this will entail upgrading infrastructure development in existing housing schemes.
The other area, he said, is the upgrading of regularized squatting areas, which is a very important component.
“Not only are we committed to the regularization of squatting areas, but as we regularize these , we are ensuring that we find different programmes through which we can improve and expand the infrastructure, so that the people themselves can have a better standard of living and a healthier environment ,” he stated.
He reminded that the squatters settlements that will be regularized under the second batch include Area ‘R’ Ankerville and   Block ‘5’ Ankerville, Port Mourant, and Eliza and Mary, commonly known as ‘Little Africa’.  These communities will benefit almost 2,700 people to the tune of approximately $263M.
He said the present housing schemes that will see the upgrading of roads, drains and structures include Westminister, on the West Bank of Demerara, and Tabatinga in Lethem.
“Tabatinga, Lethem, is very important for us. As you are aware, earlier this year we said that we will be focusing also on the development and expansion of community planning and housing development in hinterland communities,” he said.
He observed that Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), especially the Lethem area, is expanding and becoming a major growth pole or a major development centre for the country.
“And as such, we have to ensure that the level of infrastructure there reflects the changing nature of Lethem itself,” he reiterated.
To this end, he said almost $118M will be invested on the upgrading of roads, drainage, and structures in the Tabatinga Housing Scheme, which would accrue benefit to approximately 532 lots and 2,182 persons.
He said that Westminster development will be to the tune of approximately $250M and would benefit almost 4,000 persons.

“I am very happy this morning that we are at this stage in advancing the low income two project, and we look forward to the effective completion of this project by the contractors, not only in a timely manner, but in a manner that assures quality and standards,”Minister Ali said.
The contractors are Macsood Ahamad, Kares Engineering, ET & GC, V. Dalip Enterprise, S. Lorrick, and A & S General Contracting.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Water, Mr. Emile McGarrell; Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Myrna Pitt; and National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Procurement Officer, Ms. Natasha Ramotar.
Another component of the US$27.9M Second LIS Programme is the Ministry’s CH&PA core house pilot project which targets allottees in new and existing schemes. The programme has budgeted US$2.2M which will be used to construct 400 core houses (starter houses).