• The contract for a shelter for homeless persons across the country at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice was signed on Monday. It is being funded by the Venezuelan government at a cost of some $402.8 million.

Stabroek News: The project when completed will be handed over to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and Minister Priya Manickchand pointed out that this will benefit homeless persons from across the country who will be housed at the facility and trained with life skills to be reintegrated into society, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

She said that the facility will be used to replicate and improve the programme which was implemented at the Night Shelter at La Penitence which offers displaced persons accommodation, meals and clothing.

The shelter will be constructed on approximately 7.30 acres of land and will include five separate buildings. The shelter will accommodate 200 males and 100 females in separate dormitory facilities. Other buildings will include a medical facility to house a resident doctor, nurse, mess hall and kitchen, training room/conference hall, a recreation centre for skills training as well as training in life skills.

Work is expected to commence in 14 to 28 days after the signing of the contract and the completion is scheduled for August 2010. The design was prepared by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications and a technical team will be on site throughout the construction process.

Signing of the contract took place at the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) Boardroom, Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.

Witnessing the signing were Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, Minister Manickchand, Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana Dario Morandy and other officials from the Venezuelan oil company (PDVSA) and the Region Five Regional Democratic Council.

The new shelter will provide counselling services to enable persons to be reintegrated into their families and society or to stay there depending on their preference. They will also be provided with transportation, skills training, medical assistance and treatment, toiletries, clothing, and meals at the expense of the ministry.

According to GINA, Manickchand said that the project represents a deepening of the friendship between Guyana and Venezuela and is one which is very close to the heart of the government as it works to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected. These, she added, include women and children, the elderly and the homeless.

The minister noted also that there are currently programs which cater for the homeless who are invited to go to the shelters where they are provided with meals and accommodation but there is need for more space. With this new facility, the ministry will be better able to provide services for the homeless since it will have the capacity to house 300 persons.

Ambassador Morandy stated that with the signing of the contract both governments are taking an important step not only with the project construction but as a pact between the two countries. He stated that there will be further opportunities for the two countries to work together to enhance the lives of their people.

Invitations for bids were published during August 2009 and the facility was divided into five lots for individual or collective bids.

The lots are the administrative building, male dormitory, female dormitory, mess hall, security huts, residences and maintenance buildings, external works, furnishing and equipment, GINA concluded.

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guyanavenezuela-ink-contract-for-402m-homeless-shelter/