THE shelter for the reintegration and rehabilitation of the homeless at Onverwagt, on the West Coast of Berbice, in Region 5, is likely to be completed and handed over to the Government of Guyana by the end of this year. The centre was to initially be handed over to the government last March.

During a visit to the location on Wednesday, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jennifer Webster said that based on the amount of work completed at the facility, it could be safe to say that 90 percent of it is done.
On Wednesday, Minister Webster, Permanent Secretary Lauren Baird, Director of Social Services Whensworth Tanner, national engineer Walter Willis and project director Radesh Rameshwear, representing KARES Contracting and Engineering Services, visited the location.
Unlike a previous visit to the location by Minister within the Finance Ministry and Minister Webster earlier this year, when she showed visible signs of frustration at the pace at which the works were going, Minister Webster on Wednesday praised the present contractor for the work done.
Speaking with the state media after a tour of the facility, Minister Webster noted that the works at the facility seem to be of a high standard and opined that the government seems to be finally getting its money’s worth on the project.
According to Webster, the administration building, infirmary area, training facilities, library, mess hall, living quarters and even the guard hut are all looking presentable at this time.
The minister said that the facility which has a capacity to house 120 males and 60 females, still have some minor work to be done.
The centre is being built with assistance from the government of Venezuela and has several long term plans in its objectives, one of which is to provide skills training for homeless persons who can be reintegrated into society. The meals for the facility will be prepared on site and will be covered by the Government of Guyana.
The facility has accommodation for a resident doctor and a caretaker with his or her family. The facility will also have a maintenance superintendent who will be tasked with ensuring that all fixtures on the premises are in good working order.
A support staff is also expected to be part of the new facility.
The rehabilitation and reintegration centre also has a generator that will be providing back-up power supply in the event of a power failure.
After errant contractors were fired earlier this year, the ministry had to go back to tendering for the facility.
Walter Willis explained that the errant contractors still owe the state monies which could amount to close to $40 million, representing advances that were given to them during their holding of the contract.
He added that the present contractor is also way above the completion date, but the ministry is still contemplating how they will address this issue. Willis explained that this is so because at the time that the contractor was given the contract, his work was hampered by inclement weather and there were cases where payment for his licenses were delayed by the ministry which saw him being late in his acquisition of materials.
KARES has been awarded the contract to complete the project for $270M.
KARES was awarded the project on April 28, 2011, after several contractors fell short on their obligation to the project.