When government took office in 2020, several facilities including the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the National Gymnasium were utilised as bonds for COVID – 19 relief.
PM Phillips said government wants to desist from borrowing holding spaces to save supplies and therefore, the new warehouse is a priority towards the transformation.
“The Government of Guyana has seen it fit to include in this year’s budget funding for this project and that why we are here. The Government of Guyana in the past has facilitated financing for many projects and it is my wish that this project must be managed better than the last project.”
“As we go forward with this project that will make the CDC better able to do its job to be more effective and efficient, it is important that we manage this project both the contractor and the consultant,” PM Phillips added.
CDC’s Director General (ag), Major Loring Benons, explained that the building will provide adequate space for packing of hampers and convenient access to the staff and general public during emergency response activities for the delivery, packing and uplifting of relief provisions.
“The signing of the contract is a concrete effort made to strengthen our ability to effectively respond to disasters. We continue our commitment to support those affected by disasters. This ceremony reaffirms our commitment to support effectively and respond to disaster,” Major Benons stated.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affair, visited the proposed area for the $117.8M disaster response multi-purpose centre at the CDC headquarter
Meanwhile, the building’s general floor area for storage is 4,800 square feet and will include some 800 square feet of administrative offices. There will be a cold storage section of 800 square feet and an elevated storage area of 1600 square feet.
The scope of works will include re-enforced concrete pad and strip foundation, with six-inch core filled hollow block walls. The superstructure comprises universal steel beams and columns, with a steel frame with pre-painted roof sheeting.
The supervisor consultant contract for the major undertaking was awarded to Innovative Engineering Consultancy Service to the tune of $9.1 million. Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy also witnessed the signing ceremony.