Entrepreneurship is knocking on doors in the community of Tiger Bay in downtown Georgetown. On Monday morning, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority launched the Community-Based Employment Stimulation (CESP) Project. .
The programme is the brainchild of President Irfaan Ali, CHPA’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sherwyn Greaves explained. It is expected to be adopted in communities including Buxton, Albouystown, Linden, East Ruimveldt among others.
CESP would allow persons who are already making cement blocks in those communities to supply blocks to contractors building homes through the Ministry of Housing and Water.
Quality assurance is also being promised as the CHPA CEO explained that the Bureau of Standards is tasked with ensuring that these blocks are “fit” for the construction industry.
Minister within the Ministry, Susan Rodrigues in her opening remarks noted that the project is way more than it appears on the surface.
The employment project is said to be part of the President’s promise of 50,000 jobs within within five years coupled with the delivery of affordable housing.
According to Minister Rodrigues, the most vulnerable communities were identified as the first to benefit from these programs as the idea is to ensure that their lives and standard of living are improved to produce a better quality of life.
Housing and Water Minister Colin Croal linked to the programme to reduced unemployment in Regions 4, 6 and 10. He explained too that there are plans to ensure that this programme is replicated in areas in Region 3 .
The construction sector has many needs he said, there is a demand for some 123,000 blocks for two communities in which the Ministry is now building houses.
The start up materials inclusive of sand and tools will be provided by the Ministry including credit to those who wish to get involved in the process.
Work ethics, committing and fulfilling deadlines, production and ability to ensure that they do what needs to be done in a right manner were among the issues the Minister asked the target community to pay keen attention to.