…only for the indigent, at $100,000 per unit
CABINET on Tuesday approved the awarding of three contracts for the construction of ‘Core’ homes which will see needy persons owning their own homes with just a “contribution” of $100,000. Providing the details on the initiative was Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet news conference yesterday at the Office of the President.
The ‘Core’ Homes initiative is one by the Ministry of Housing and Water and construction costs will essentially be borne by central government. The contracts awarded will see construction in Westminster, West Bank Demerara; and at Lusignan and Non Pariel on the East Coast Demerara.
The contract for Westminster was awarded at a sum of $15.6M; Lusignan, $14.6M; and Non Pariel, $15.9M.
Those benefiting will be persons of “absolute poverty,” Luncheon explained, adding, “you have to be indigent to benefit from Core Homes.
He explained that the recipient would make a donation of $100,000 and then provision of the land, construction of the home, and every other requirement would be done by the government.
Luncheon, also Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), said about a 1,000 core homes will be constructed and that some have already been awarded in Regions 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne).
Meanwhile, the HPS said October 17 is planned for a ‘One Stop Shop’ in Amalia’s Ward, Linden where a 1,000 house lots will be allocated. This would set the record for the one year allocation of 6,500 house lots being allocated so far, Luncheon disclosed.
According to him, the investment for the land preparation, including roads, potable water, electricity and drainage, for the 1,000 lots, is about half of a billion dollars. This would be the 12th ‘One Stop Shop’ and two more are planned for the rest of the year, the HPS informed.