Two community facilities built at a combined cost of $195 million were opened at Covent Garden and Herstelling Plot C, East Bank Demerara, on Wednesday, with their operation and maintenance to be placed under the Herstelling/Little Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
The Covent Garden facility cost $101 million, while the Herstelling Plot C facility cost $94 million, according to a release from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
Both were constructed under the Inter-American Development Bank-financed Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), which is implemented by CH&PA.
The Covent Garden facility was commissioned on Wednesday, while a ribbon-cutting and handover ceremony was held at Herstelling Plot C.
A community-based management committee comprising the NDC and residents from both communities is to support the facilities’ day-to-day operations.
Speaking at Covent Garden, Minister within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn urged residents to take responsibility for caring for the facility and work with the council and management committee to keep it clean, safe and properly maintained.
She called for measures to prevent vandalism and maintain a smoke-free environment, while expressing concern about vaping among young people.
Benn said the facilities were intended to provide inclusive spaces for children, young people, families, senior citizens and persons with disabilities to participate in recreation and community activities.
She also pointed to the programme’s wider investments in roads, drainage, street lighting and housing, as well as four multipurpose community facilities.
CH&PA Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Pertab said the facilities were among the programme’s final deliverables. These also include 282 core homes, more than 855 home-improvement subsidies and infrastructure upgrades, according to the release.
The programme combines housing assistance with improvements to neighbourhood infrastructure and accessibility.
Stabroek News reported in October 2023 that the government and IDB were discussing completion of outstanding AHUAP projects before the close of the project cycle. At that time, CH&PA said the programme covered road-network upgrades and expansion, alongside housing and basic infrastructure for low-income populations in social housing schemes in Greater Georgetown and some coastal regions.
In July 2024, the newspaper also reported the handover of core homes to five low-income beneficiaries on the East Bank of Demerara under the programme.
At Wednesday’s commissioning, IDB Resident Representative Lorena Salazar said the facilities would provide spaces where residents could meet, build friendships and strengthen community ties.
Housing Minister Collin Croal and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy also attended, along with Region Four Chairman Clemsford Belgrave, CH&PA community development officials and residents.
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