Housing sector has been transformational, dynamic – Housing Minister
HOUSING has been a transformation by itself, the housing team has been very dynamic and 2014 has been a success, said Housing and Water Minister, Irfaan Ali. During his year-end review, the minister explained that the success of his team at the ministry deserves special congratulations, as they had worked tirelessly over the year to meet all targets placed before them.
According to the minister, in 2014 the ministry’s team decided to place their focus primarily on infrastructural upgrading, advancing the turnkey project and in opening up new opportunities in improving occupancy and building the assets of the Guyanese people.
“We were able to complete a number of pilots in 2014: firstly, the young professional pilot project which today we have a demand that we never expected. We also have the core homes; we have the turnkey homes; the 1000 homes project where we have completed a hundred foundations and we have started another 50 homes,” minister Ali noted.
Minister Ali, during a press update at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara, sometime in July had related that the 2014 Budget catered for more turnkey homes and the ministry had seen an increase in interest from applicants for the “move- in, ready-made” homes, and as such made provisions for more of these homes. He added that the project was moving apace, though launched only in June 2013.
Houses from the 1,000 turnkey project in Perseverance
“This project started construction in May of this year [2014] and is moving at a rapid pace. Even though we would have experienced some amount of rain, because of good drainage construction can still be carried on.” He said the project is not without problems, but they are minimal. The Turn Key initiative saw the ministry construct two-bedroom homes for $4.9M and three-bedroom homes for $9M, and those homes would be sold to qualifying beneficiaries.
The Eccles New Scheme turnkey project saw 60 houses being built and presently all have been allotted to young professionals. “We are in partnership with the private sector and professional groups. The Government would have put in the infrastructure [and] private capital would have assisted in the building of the homes,” Ali noted. He explained that for these projects to materialise, they had used all Guyanese professionals at all levels of construction and consultations.
The ministry in 2015 is looking to have another 200 homes constructed at the same value as there continues to be a growing demand. The present bungalow homes were constructed at a cost of $13M with a bank value of $25M. The houses feature three bedrooms; kitchen equipped with counters and cupboards; two and a half baths and room for expansion. The two- storeyed houses feature the same amenities and cost $19.5M. The low to middle- income houses carry two bedrooms and estimated cost of between $4M to $8M.
During an interview conducted in November 2014, Taslim Baksh, Director of Finance at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) said in his overview of the project, presently within the Eccles New Scheme there is almost 80% occupancy. He stressed that $600M was invested by the private sector for this specific project.
In June 2013, the ministry launched the Perseverance 1000 turnkey homes and on May 19, the first batch of 50 houses started to be constructed. The cost for the completed house is $4.9 M with the house costing $4.4M and the land $500,000. Known as the Buttercup Cottages, they are two- bedroom flat houses equipped with toilet and bath, kitchen and living area. The ministry as was explained will be providing water and electricity for the homes and have also modernised the houses with sealed rooms and sash-windows.
Minister Ali referred to the fact that in 2014, “We have employed directly to work on these projects some 800 persons this year, we have built the capacity of more than 20 small contractors and we have been able also through the capital investment and improvement to create close to 3000 jobs.” Explaining further, Ali, said that the investment by Government in the housing sector was able to create close to 4000 jobs in 2014