The Government of Guyana, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), is engaged in a process of seeking housing developers who would develop housing schemes in Region Four through either a public-private partnership or private developers.
According to a notice published, the CH&PA is seeking the developers to expand its housing programme on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridors. It even described the characteristics of the undeveloped lands to be developed.
The lands, it noted, are in good locations relative to Georgetown as the urban centre, are generally flat, with an adequate residential mix. It noted that the lands can also be integrated with the existing communities.
Additionally, it was explained that the lands must be developed with sustainable social, economic and environmental community development in mind. The developers are meanwhile expected to commence construction within six months and to complete the developments within 24 months.
“Interested parties must be able to achieve the quality of development, construction and management of the project within the stipulated time frame,” CH&PA further explained, adding that developers can bid individually or as part of a consortium. Bids must be submitted by March 25, 2022.
With a plan to distribute 50,000 house lots by 2025, the Government has set out a robust housing plan for this year. Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal had revealed earlier this year that the 2022 plans include the distribution of 15,000 house lots as well as the continuation of the home improvement and subsidy programme.
A sum of $12.4 billion was set aside in Budget 2022 for the housing sector, which goes towards the development of housing units and the necessary road network and other infrastructure to support these housing developments.
There is also the soon to be completed four-lane bypass road from Mandela to Eccles, which has seen six contractors work on completing the important road link under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Water.
The bypass project will see a total of 26 kilometres of road constructed, linking two of the country’s main thoroughfares. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara corridor. These include Diamond, Mocha and Eccles – all on the East Bank – and Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown. These connections will prove crucial in diverting traffic.
Work on constructing the $2.3 billion four-lane highway from Eccles to Mandela started In April 2021. Contracts were signed with six contractors and were supposed to have been completed by December 2021. However, inclement weather resulted in the project, which will be important in alleviating traffic build up on the East Bank, being delayed.
The Eccles to Mandela four-lane project is the second phase of the Ogle-Diamond bypass project and is intended to tie in with the overall four-lane project currently being built. These projects are part of the India-funded Bypass Road Project which would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara, creating a new highway in the backlands.
The Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD, to Diamond. Under the previous Government, the project was at a standstill for several years.
The President Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party Administration has since redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LOC. It will now run from Ogle to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
