ARTICLE - 2 CONTRACTS - 900 HOUSING

2 CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 900 HOUSING
(Haiti Libre) -

On Thursday, April 26, 2012, the United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signed contracts with two firms, including one that is a consortium, with a Haitian construction company, for the development and construction of 750 units, of earthquake and hurricane resistant housing, on the Caracol-Ekam site in Haiti’s Northern Development Corridor, and 156 units in the community of Cabaret to the north of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

These two housing projects are consistent with the Government of Haiti’s reconstruction plan, including its focus on decentralization, and went through 18 months of consultations with stakeholders at all levels, including community members, local mayors, and President Martelly.

Throughout the consultation process and design, the U.S. worked with the Haitian government and local mayors to improve the plan so that it best reflects the views of stakeholders in communities. This required to ensure a bedroom, causing it to build the house on a total area of ​​34 square meters - in accordance with the housing units being built by the Haitian Government and the InterAmerican Development Bank, in Port-au-Prince. In addition, each home will have access to water and electricity, and will be located near areas with job opportunities and health services already existing, and in development.

U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Merten served as the U.S. signatory to the two contracts: one with Thor Construction for construction in Caracol and one with CEMEX for construction in Cabaret. The combined investment on the part of the United States in these two new housing communities, including site preparation and drainage, roads and sidewalks, streetlights and potable water distribution systems, exceeds $25 million.

Ambassador Merten said, "After months of studies and consultations, and with the support not only of President Martelly, but also local officials, the formalization of these contracts marks another milestone in the United States’ work with the people of Haiti, as we fulfill our commitment to help this great country realize a better, more prosperous future."

Representative of the support of their populations, Mayor Thomas Joseph Wills of Cabaret was a witness to the signing ceremony, and Mayor Landry Colas of Caracol visited the embassy later. They both expressed their satisfaction at the close cooperation and incorporation of local input in the design and planning of the houses.

Following requests from members of Parliament of the North and Northeast, the housing settlement at Caracol will be set back from Route National 6, providing a buffer of 120 meters for vegetation. There will also be a 59-meter buffer to the highway at Trou Du Nord on the other side of the settlement. This will accommodate long-term development plans for a four-lane highway and necessary buffer zones on both sides of the settlement to allow for the future growth of the Northern Development Corridor.