By Rayon Dyer, Freelance WriterBLACK RIVER, ST. Elizabeth:
Donald Buchanan, Minister of Water and Housing, toured the Operation PRIDE projects in his southwest St. Elizabeth constituency to determine the status of the projects at Luana, Font Hill,Vineyard and Lower Works.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner on Wednesday, Mr. Buchanan said that in relation to the Luana project, 227 lots were allocated and so far six houses have been completed and another 140 were under construction.
He said that the sewage plant on the site will be completed before year-end.
"With respect to this project, we have collected some $115 million from beneficiaries, $79 million was collected from the Luana Providence Society and $35 million from the National Housing Trust (NHT). I should also tell you that on this project things are going quite well," the minister said.
"In terms of Font Hill, all of the 166 lots are for agricultural purposes and they were sold at prices between $50,000 and $60,000. In addition to that I have given instructions to the National Housing Development Corporation to fast-track its plans to collect the outstanding funds owing on this project," he added.
However, when asked for the status of the overpayments to the contractor on the Luana project, with limited work done, the minister said he was not prepared to speak on any issue predating his takeover of the Water and Housing portfolio.
According to the Auditor- General's report of April 10, 1997, the contractor who did infrastructural work on the Operation Pride project at Luana St. Elizabeth was contracted at $1.138 million. Instead, he collected $40.515 million.
"In the case of the work at Luana, the total contractors claims up to the time of this audit amounted to $55.609 million," the Auditor-General's report said.
Mr. Buchanan also noted that the Lower Works project, consisting of 82 lots, roads and other infrastructure works, is under way. He said that the Vineyard project consists of just under 200 lots and the infrastructural work is expected to be completed by the second week of November.
