$780M in housing schemes upgrades

Georgetown: Seven hundred and eighty million dollars ($780M) has been allocated to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to execute a series of upgrades in several housing schemes. According to Director of Projects CH&PA, Omar Naraine this money has been allocated from government funds set aside for 2019 budget.

Some of the housing schemes developed on lands allocated by CH&PA in various areas are in need of upgrades to their road, drainage and other infrastructure. In addition to this, street lamps are expected to be installed.

Naraine explained, “from time to time we will receive numerous complaints from beneficiaries that they have little or no access [in these communities] so the $780M will be used to upgrade the existing road network in those communities to asphaltic concrete, improve the drainage network and for the first time CH&PA will be installing street lamps. Therefore, part of those financial resources is for the installation of 100 street lamps.”

Also, $30Million will be directed to rehabilitating of several community centres and recreational grounds in the CH&PA schemes.

“In addition, the government saw it fit to give the CH&PA this additional financing because to deliver a sustainable community we have to think of the social component and aspects of those communities which are the recreational community facilities,” the Director of Projects indicated.

These planned interventions are expected to roll out early 2019.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan had announced in his 2019 budget presentation that the government has adopted a multi-faceted approach to providing affordable, livable and suitable hosing solutions.

This is done “with a focus on delivering a ‘community experience’. This will entail a comprehensive approach to housing, which includes not just units or lots but also roads, drainage, sidewalks, lighting, social services and recreational facilities,” Minister Jordan detailed.