Seven small business owners affected by infrastructure works under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP) on the East Bank of Demerara, Region Four received cash entitlements as part of the programme’s Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP).
The project-affected persons (PAPs) were presented with their cheques this afternoon at the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Boardroom. The distribution was facilitated by the Hon. Collin Croal, Minister of Housing and Water, alongside Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bishram Kuppen and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Mr. Sherwyn Greaves. Deputy Director of Community Development, Mrs. Donell Bess-Bascom and other staff were also in attendance.
The LRP is designed to ensure that individuals economically displaced by programme activities have their socio-economic conditions restored or improved. A total of $676,000 was disbursed to today’s PAPs.
Minister Croal emphasized the programme’s commitment to supporting those affected by development works and highlighted the government’s focus on improving the lives of citizens through targeted policies and initiatives. He also urged the recipients to make wise use of the funds.
“It is initiatives like this that will help you go a far way, and I want to ask you to utilize your resources as maximally as possible in terms of investing further or expanding,” said the Minister.
In addition to the cash entitlements, the seven beneficiaries will soon receive training in key areas, including Entrepreneurial Awareness, Financial Management and Record Keeping, Small Business Development, and Taxation and Business Regularization.
Through AHUAP, the Ministry of Housing and Water has executed several major infrastructure projects on the East Bank of Demerara, valued at over $950 million. These works include the upgrade of 8.34 km of roads, construction of 2043 km of reinforced concrete drains and sidewalks, and installation of concrete sidewalks (600mm – 6) in areas such as Covent Garden, Farm Phases 1 and 2, Herstelling, Providence Phase 2 (North and South), Peter’s Hall, and Perseverance.
Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), AHUAP aims to improve the quality of life for low-income populations in urban and peri-urban Georgetown by providing better access to adequate housing, basic infrastructure, and improved mobility services. Key initiatives under AHUAP include Core Home Support, which provides low-income families with starter homes, and the Home Improvement Subsidy, designed to assist families in upgrading their homes to meet better living standards.
On the East Bank of Demerara, 91 core home beneficiaries have been selected, with 11 homes already handed over. Overall, 120 core homes have been delivered to families within the project boundary, which spans from Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank Demerara; up to Hope on the East Coast Demerara, and several West Bank Demerara communities such as Westminster, Onderneeming, Lust-en-Rust, and Parfaite Harmonie. Hundreds of families have also benefitted from the Home Improvement Subsidy, furthering the programme’s mission to enhance living standards for Guyanese citizens.