Housing Ministry terminates 2 more contractors over delays at Stewartville Housing Scheme

…works re-tendered for access roads

The Housing Ministry, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), has terminated two other contractors for underperforming in the execution of critical infrastructure works at sections of the new housing scheme at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

These contractors were responsible for works on access roads at Stewartville East and West in Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara). One of the underperforming contractors was awarded a lot in Stewartville East, while the other was also given one lot in Stewartville West.
In demonstration of its commitment to the delivery of serviced house lots to Guyanese families, the Ministry on Sunday said following the contract termination, the works have been re-tendered in order to ensure allottees are provided with unhindered access to their land.
“The Ministry is focused on ensuring the programme is back on track and will shortly issue new contracts to complete the works,” a statement from the Housing Ministry detailed.
This announcement comes on the heels of Housing Minister Collin Croal and Minister within the Ministry Vanessa Benn, along with Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen and technical staff of the Ministry, visiting the area on Friday to assess works.
During the visit, Minister Benn noted that while many allottees have access to their lands and some have already begun constructing their homes, a number of them remain affected by the delay in infrastructure works.
Of the nearly 1,000 house lots in Stewartville, approximately 100 are impacted, specifically Lots 254–266 in Stewartville East and Lots 433–472, 662–680 and 715–744 in Stewartville West.

Timely delivery
Minister Benn emphasised that the Ministry is closely monitoring contractors to ensure timely delivery of infrastructure. It was further noted that these underperforming contractors have been repeatedly engaged on their obligations and were reminded that failure to improve will result in termination.
The Minister within the Ministry used the opportunity to remind everyone that the housing programme is ultimately about improving lives, noting that allottees are eagerly awaiting access as they pursue better living conditions for their families.
In total, some 2200 residential lots have been allocated across three sections of the Stewartville Housing Development.
The first phase of infrastructure works commenced in 2024 and included land clearing, installation of drainage networks, and the construction of roads, bridges and culverts. The $7.7 billion Infrastructure Development programme saw 14 contractors being awarded the works in 19 lots at the new Stewartville housing scheme.
These contractors included AJM Enterprise, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc., Upper West Off Builders, Bardon Contractors Srvs, S Maraj Contracting Services, Extreme Construction Inc, A-1 Construction Chung’s Global Inc, Superior General Contracting, A Nazier & Son Contracting and General Supplies, Y Bhola Construction Srvs, Romcol Construction, Engineering & Maintenance Services Inc, and Roopan Ramoutar Investment.

Expedite
During an engagement back in 2024, Croal had urged the contractors to expedite their respective works, reminding them that hundreds of Guyanese were eagerly waiting to commence their home construction.
At the time, the contractors had cited some of the challenges facing them – chief among which was the lengthy time it takes to be able to source construction material. While acknowledging the cause for delays, Minister Croal had warned that liquidated damages can be applied if the contractors fail to deliver.
Meanwhile, only last week, the Housing Ministry similarly terminated underperforming contractors and re-tendered the infrastructure works at Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara, where about 21 per cent of the allottees at Blocks One and Seven were affected by the delays.
These decisive actions form part of the Ministry’s intensified oversight of infrastructure delivery in developing housing schemes across the country.
“It’s not the entire Blocks One and Seven that are inaccessible. It’s only sections within those two blocks that are affected,” Minister Croal had clarified during Thursday’s site visit to the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) housing scheme.
Block One comprises 1,018 lots, with lots 493–677 affected, while Block Seven contains 725 lots, with lots 31–220 impacted.
That re-tender process is also underway and is expected to open by the second week of March, with contracts likely to be awarded by the end of the month. Once awarded, contractors will mobilise to commence infrastructure works.
According to Minister Croal, the action taken at Great Diamond demonstrates the Ministry’s firm approach to contractor performance and its commitment to delivering serviced house lots to Guyanese.