An aerial view of Silica City (CHPA Photo)
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--Housing Minister Collin Croal earlier today underscored the importance of building quality homes as he conducted a site visit at the highly-touted Silica City, where some 110 homes are under construction along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
“This visit is aimed at providing an update on the construction of 110 houses at Silica City. We’re focusing on various stages of construction and assessing the quality of work… As part of our mandate, the construction of houses will play a major role in terms of fulfilling our target for this period [in office]. So, it therefore means we’ll have to do some strengthening at our Project Department,” he stated.
This new People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration has committed to building some 40,000 homes as part of its housing plan for the next five years.
According to Minister Croal, the Housing Ministry has been receiving a lot of feedback from existing homeowners on the quality of work done during the last term.
“So, we want to ensure that quality [work] is part of what we’re delivering on… Over the next few weeks, we’ll be putting this into an action sheet…and we’ll be strengthening that aspect of the Project Department, because monitoring is very important. We don’t want when the houses are complete, then you have the beneficiaries complaining about the quality. This is something we should be picking up very early,” he posited.
Meanwhile, today’s site visit serves as a familiarisation tour for newly-appointed Minister within the Housing Ministry, Vanessa Benn, who got a first-hand view of the works ongoing at Guyana’s first sustainable city.
She too underscored the importance of ensuring quality products are delivered to citizens, while also stressing the need for “greening” construction spaces across the country.
“My goal is not just to monitor progress but to assist staff in overcoming challenges that may hinder quality construction. Quality work takes time, but improving efficiency within the ministry is a key focus… Whilst we look at the work that they have been doing so well for over the years, [we also have to look at] how we broaden that scope…you know, the greening of spaces in which the houses are being constructed,” she stated.
For instance, with her expertise in the forestry sector, Minister Benn will be pushing for the use of not just more wood products in housing construction but also utilising lesser-known species outside of kabukalli and greenheart.
Currently, the first 110 Young Professional houses that are under construction at Phase One of Silica City comprise four designs with high demand for the elevated homes.
With seven contractors working, the houses are currently at various stages of completion, and according to Minister Croal, allocations have already begun with beneficiaries to be able to sign their Agreements of Sale soon.
In the meantime, work has already commenced on Phase Two of the Silica City project, which will target the Guyanese Diaspora.
According to Minister Croal, this phase will introduce a different type of housing to meet the needs of the target market.
“Currently, the project team is doing the design to prepare for the infrastructure work [to commence]… The design [and] the construction to take place there will be different… Those will target more of the condo-type of design,” the minister told reporters today.
In fact, he noted that interest is already buzzing from the diaspora.
“A lot of the persons from the diaspora have been expressing interest. They want to return, and of course, there is a particular type of area they’re looking for. And so here’s an opportunity that we’ll be able to engage them,” he added.
The Housing Minister noted that the diaspora applicants will have to undergo a similar process and meet the local criteria, that is, being of Guyanese origin and a first-time homeowner.
