by TREVOR YEARWOOD

THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (RDC) is worried about the rising prices of Guyana's hardwood shipments to Barbados.

If the situation worsens, the agency could ask building contractors and other people working with its home construction and repair programme to source cheaper hardwoods from Guyana's neighbour, Suriname.

RDC chairman Tyrone Power made these disclosures over the weekend against the backdrop of complaints from building contractors about sharp rises in construction material costs in recent months.

"It is my understanding that the prices for hardwoods coming out of Guyana are escalating," he told the DAILY NATION.

"So we are watching this very carefully.

"Rising prices mean we will have to spend more money on materials. We don't have any control over the rising prices for lumber in Guyana. What we might have to do is ask some of the contractors or persons who build for us to source lumber coming out of Suriname . . . .

"The only problem with Suriname is the shipping, in getting materialsto us in Barbados."

The RDC's housing programme emphasises the use of hardwood, including purpleheart and greenheart, with pine reserved for repair jobs to homes made of this material.

Power said the commission had moved away from original methods of constructing timber houses, opting for the more durable woods, and had also shifted from constructing one-bedroom houses.

The RDC did not import building materials, but left this to independent contractors working on its behalf.

These contractors have been asking whether the agency would increase the prices on its contracts, given increases in prices for lumber, electrical components, other building materials and tools.

The RDC, Urban Development Commission (UDC) and the National Housing Corporation are the state's main
home-building arms.

"We have looked at not building one-bedroom houses anymore because one-bedroom houses are proving to be problematic," Power said.

"When our clients reach a certain age and they need company, we then have to build additional facilities if there is a home-helper or someone that is going to stay."

He described the demand for housing solutions from the RDC as "tremendous".