Another is for the supervision of infrastructural works in the housing sector, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon reported at his regular post-Cabinet news briefing Wednesday.

He said a contract amounting to $25,537,500 was approved by Cabinet for the design and supervision consultancy service for the rehabilitation of the sewerage system at the airport.

Another contract for US$164,390 was approved for the design and consultancy service for the rehabilitation of the arrival terminal at the airport, he reported.

The other contract approved is for supervision of infrastructural works at two housing schemes -Block 12, Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara and Block B, Plantation Best on the West Coast Demerara.

The contract is valued at $7,544,782 and the works are to be executed under the Low Income Settlements Programme.

The Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has embarked on a pilot project to enable allottees of low income house lots in government developed housing schemes to build their own homes.

The objectives of the project are to: build affordable homes at the lowest initial construction cost through labour inputs by the lot/building owners themselves, develop a best practice methodology and train participants in technical skills through on the job practices, utilise appropriate building technology to construct sound housing units at the lowest possible cost, develop community participation through cohesive group efforts and to establish continuity of self-help lot/home owner builder programmes countrywide.

The ministry would give support to the project by organising self-sustaining groups in the selected housing areas, providing continuous appropriate technical assistance to these groups for housing construction and facilitating eligible beneficiaries to access finance from approved mortgage financial institutions.

Luncheon also said that Cabinet at its meeting Tuesday reviewed the functioning of State Boards and the directors appointed would soon be notified of their appointments.

"Cabinet concluded its discussions and review on the appointment of those boards whose directors were appointed at the Cabinet meeting, and would soon be notified.

"The ministerial sectors where boards have expired were dealt with and the only uncertainty that remains to be addressed is the naming or identification of nominees from various entities, parties and the sectors for their appointment to the already established boards," he said.