Despite some minor hiccups in material procurement, Housing and Water Minister, the Hon. Collin Croal, stated the work on the Ministry’s new Headquarters is progressing satisfactorily.

He made these remarks at a site visit to the Plantation Houston location on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bishram Kuppen; Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves; Board Chairman, Dr. Emanuel Cummings; Deputy Director of Projects, Mr. Intakab Indarjeet; Project Engineer- Mr. Kit Fai Sue, and representatives from the contracting firm, Aika General Construction and Hardware Supplies Inc.

The contract sum for the five-story building complex stands at approximately $ 570 million, while an additional $171 million contract is in place for a central air conditioning system. Work on the project had paused for a few weeks due to a delay in construction materials, which has subsequently been resolved.

“I am pleased to say that the issue with materials has been cleared up and the contractor will move ahead with construction and by the first half of this year the entire frame of the building will be completed and the other components by the end of the year.”.

Upon completion, the Minister explained that all the Ministry’s departments that have been operating in separate buildings will be consolidated at the Houston location. He further stated that this centralized approach aims to streamline services, sparing individuals the inconvenience of visiting multiple offices for their transactions.

Additionally, the new facility is expected to provide a new level of comfort for staff as well as members of the public. Minister Croal also highlighted other amenities, such as adequate parking for staff and members of the public and a recreational facility for staff.

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kuppen stated that as the accounting officer for the Ministry, he is pleased with the work done so far and has assured that checks will be done throughout the lifespan of the project to ensure quality control. The Permanent Secretary added that he is looking forward to the consolidation of services into one facility, which will ultimately ensure efficiency of service.

Also speaking to the benefits that this new facility will bring, Mr. Greaves said members of the public will be able to enjoy some amount of privacy and comfort when transacting their business.

“On a daily basis we attend to approximately 300 to 500 persons and their comfort is important to us as well. So coming to this new facility will give our customers the comfort they need and it will be an overall better environment,” said Mr. Greaves.

Meanwhile, Dr. Cummings emphasised that the Housing Ministry plays a crucial role in the Government’s mandate to serve Guyanese. Therefore, he noted that it is essential for the agency to improve all aspects of its functionality.

The new facility will house in excess of three hundred and twenty (320) staff members and is being constructed on a plot of land measuring approximately 214’ x 407’ (2 acres). The building measures approximately 150 ft in length x 105 ft in width and is designed with a parking area catering to over 100 vehicles.