CH&PA seeks contractors to construct core houses in Sophia

Even as homeowners in the Government’s housing scheme in Perseverance, Providence, East Bank Demerara, are anxiously awaiting repair works to their homes, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is pushing ahe ad to develop yet another community, this time in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
In an advertisement placed in one of the daily newspapers on Saturday, the CH&PA informed that it is seeking to pre-qualify contractors for this project.
“The Central Housing and Planning Authority intends to prequalify contractors for the construction of core houses in Sophia housing area, Georgetown. It is expected that invitations for bid will be made in August 2019. Invitations for bids will be done in lots,” the advertisement said.
Further, it explained that “Prequalification will be conducted through prequalification procedures specified in the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Policies for the Procurement of Works and Goods financed by the Inter-American Development Bank, March 2011, and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries, as defined by the Policies”.
This is so given that the IDB is funding the Reformulation of the Road Network, Upgrade and Expansion Programme-Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme.
In November 2018 when applications were opened for core houses, it was reported that this project was designed to specifically benefit households which live on lots valued at $92,000 or less and were regularised or developed by the CH&PA, applicants must also be earning $75,000 or less per month.
The homes were expected to be completely concrete and not more than 400 square feet. Upon completion, a sanitary block, as well as electrical and plumbing works, would be conducted.
Applicants under this programme were required to deposit $100,000 to secure further funding from the Government.
But even as this is ongoing, residents in one of the newly developed housing schemes in Providence are patiently awaiting repairs to their homes.
Just last month, Guyana Times visited the area where residents complained of faulty foundation works and leaking roofs among other things.
Some persons said they have been waiting several months for contractors to rectify the faulty works, some of which they were forced to fix themselves owing to the long delay.
One resident told this publication that persons would have complained to CH&PA several months ago and despite commitments to rectify the issue, they are now fearful that the one-year defect/liability period will expire before the issues are remedied.
That resident, Seeta Singh, had detailed that there appears to be a leakage in the zinc sheets which is causing her plyboard ceiling to swell and fall off both inside and outside of her home.
Another resident, who also lives in the area, complained that his window frames are falling off and he is fearful for his safety. At that time, he said his home was visited by a contractor about two weeks ago, who promised to fix the default but showed up informing him that he had “run out” of materials.
Richard Coddet, another resident in the area, told this publication that he had been living in his home for about three years now and is still experiencing troubles because of faulty foundation and roof works. “From the inception when we got this home, we encountered a lot a lot of problems but at the end of the day, overall, we are grateful because we are happy to have a home. We had leaks, we had cracks, we still have cracks and the house seems to be sinking because of the foundation,” he explained.
Government had paused the distribution of lands and had instead embarked on an initiative which forced Guyanese into buying pre-built houses.
This newspaper understands that not many persons are comfortable with the idea of purchasing the houses, as they prefer to oversee the construction process of their own homes for various reasons.
Under the previous Administration, over 100,000 house lots were distributed and over 200 core houses were made available to underprivileged families, while a programme for professional groups provided 200 teachers, nurses and policemen with fast-track access to loans for home construction.