Homeless to benefit from skills training at Onverwagt centre

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry is working closely with the contractor of the Centre of Rehabilitation and Reintegration, located at Onverwagt, Region Five, to ensure optimum value of its investment and timely delivery. This Gy$ 402 million investment, a collaborative venture between the governments of Guyana and Venezuela will accommodate over 180 homeless persons. On Wednesday, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster; the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Loraine Baird and Senior Engineer Walter Willis met with Kares Engineering representatives at the centre to discuss the progress of the five-building complex.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Minister Webster during a tour of the facility stated that she is very pleased with the works done so far, and expressed her profound gratitude to the government of Venezuela for its assistance.
She stated that programmes will be implemented to help those persons who would be rehabilitated through skills training. The complex comprises two dormitories, an administrative building which houses the training centre, library and, an infirmary and rooms for persons with communicable diseases and disabilities, administrative residence for doctors and, an administrator who will be living within the facility, and other staff who will assist, including a maintenance superintendent responsible for the maintenance work. There is a separate building for security personnel. Residents will take their meals, which will be provided by government, in the mess hall.
In addition, a 50kVa generator will be installed to provide electricity back-up support. While 90 per cent of the work is completed, there is still some structural work that has to be done, such as the parking area, electrical work by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and landscaping.
Following the termination of several contractors, who were awarded different phases of the project, Kares Engineering was then awarded the job in April 2011. Willis stated that the present contractor went above the contracted completion time and it is still undecided whether measures will be put in place to implement liquidated damage.
Inclement weather earlier in the year and payment delays contributed to the delay in the project. Willis stated that over Gy$ 38 million is yet to be recovered from contractors, whose contracts were terminated in 2010 and, government is still to decide what actions will be taken on these contractors.
The facility is expected to be completed by the end of this month and formally become operational by December.