“Development is much more than just infrastructure we build” – Croal

…as new $180M Onderneeming Community Facility commissioned

The new Onderneeming Community Facility in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), which was constructed at a cost of $180 million, was commissioned on Friday and is set to provide residents with a welcoming space for recreation, social activities, and community events.

The facility was developed under the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Adequate Housing (CH&PA) and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The programme forms part of broader efforts to improve living conditions and expand access to essential infrastructure in low-income communities.
Housing Minister Collin Croal at the commissioning ceremony emphasised the Government’s vision for development that extends beyond roads and housing to creating spaces where people can connect, grow and thrive as a community.
“Development is much more than just the infrastructure that we build. It is about the difference that infrastructure makes in people’s lives,” Croal stated.
He encouraged residents to respect and care for the new facility, calling on the ground’s Management Committee and all users to take collective responsibility for its upkeep to ensure it remains a safe and welcoming space for the community.

Croal also highlighted the progress made under the AHUAP on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), where approximately $1.607 billion has been expended on infrastructure improvements and housing support. These interventions include road upgrades, reinforced concrete drains and culverts, concrete sidewalks, earthen drain cleaning, the construction of community facilities, the handover of more than 200 Core Homes, and the disbursement of 242 Home Improvement subsidies.
Representing the IDB, Lorena Solorzano-Salazar welcomed the opportunity to partner with the Ministry in advancing initiatives that improve lives and support the development of sustainable communities. She stated that in an increasingly digital world, spaces that encourage face-to-face interaction and meaningful social connections remain especially important.
She further emphasised that the facility’s long-term impact will depend on proper maintenance, stressing the importance of keeping it safe, accessible and well-maintained for continued community use.
Regional representatives also welcomed the new facility, recognising its value as an additional space for recreation and stronger community ties.
The scope of works included the construction of a multipurpose building and pavilion with washrooms (including for persons living with disabilities), changing facilities and water storage; perimeter fencing, sliding gates and access bridges; a white-sand recreational field, children’s play area and basketball court; a security hut and internal parking area; perimeter walkways, landscaping and tree planting; the installation of solar-powered LED floodlights and external lighting; and concrete drainage along the northern, southern and western boundaries.
AHUAP, which concluded in December 2025, had an overall budget of $5.8 billion and targeted low-income communities across Georgetown and surrounding areas.
These included La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara, communities between Georgetown and Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, areas between Georgetown and La Bonne Intention on the East Coast of Demerara, and 19 communities between Mon Repos and Haslington.