Guyana now sees prefab opportunities in SurinameAs early as 2012, the then Bouterse-Ameerali government announced that a Chinese company would be set up in Suriname that specializes in building so-called prefab homes (a type of construction kit homes).It was the company Broad Homes Industrial International Co.Ltd.The Surinamese branch would become Broad Homes Suriname.The company in China was founded in 1988 and specialized in prefabrication in 1996.Building schools, offices, factories, skyscrapers, dams, roads and airports has made them one of the major players in the pre-fab industry.However, the Chinese prefab factory in Smalkalden in the Para district, which was announced with such fanfare, has been empty and abandoned for a long time.And nobody knows why the Chinese apparently left with a loud drum.Couple of model homes already in August 2014At the beginning of August 2014, this company set up four model homes at Para's supervisory board.The keys to these homes were received by then-Minister Jim Hok (Natural Resources) – who replaced President Desi Bouterse – from the Chinese ambassador.It was also stated at the time that the Chinese multinational would establish a factory in the district – which became Smalkalden – where elements for prefab homes would be produced.“The factory will produce 2,800 homes per year.This fulfills President Bouterse's promise to provide every family in Suriname with a high-quality home," said Etienne Boerenveen of the Housing Sector Restructuring Working Group.The government had signed a number of housing-building agreements in China, and Hunan Province in southern China was said to contribute to the realization of the government's housing-building program.“Hunan Province will also build a trade center in Suriname from which it will serve the Caribbean, South America and the rest of the world in terms of trade,” Hok said at the time.As far as we know, that trading center was never built….Prefab housing factory put into operation at the end of March 2015At the end of March 2015, the prefab housing factory in Smalkalden was put into operation.When 'Broad Homes Suriname PC Factory' were running at full capacity, about 3,000 homes would be manufactured per year.Then-President Desi Bouterse spoke of a "historic milestone for the people" and his Minister of Public Works Rabin Parmessar even claimed that it was a "revolution in Surinamese housing construction."“Here is the factory that will be producing houses for us at a rapid pace in the near future, so that every family will have its own house within the foreseeable future,” said Bouterse.“This future is now within reach.Having your own house brings peace of mind.It is an anchor for stability and lays the foundation for the organization of one's own life.”Beautiful words that turned out to have been hot air a few years later.The factory was supposed to manufacture the parts of houses that, depending on the model, could be set up in a few days.The space for wiring and other pipes was incorporated in the panels.It had been agreed that the company would produce panels for three homes a day and 150 homes should have been set up in Para.Parmessar even said at the end of March 2015 that with the arrival of the factory the 18,000 homes promised by his government Bouterse-I would be realized and "even exceeded".“You can safely talk about a revolution in the construction sector and housing in our country.However, it will not be limited to our country because when the company increases its capacity it will be able to export to the surrounding countries," said the current NDP faction leader in the National Assembly.No more government money, the company started borrowing millions itselfDue to a lack of money from the Surinamese government that would subsidize part of the housing construction, it was not possible to continue producing – except for the model homes – as it turned out in May 2016. The company would receive a loan of US$ 500 million from the China Latin America. & Caribbean Fund (China-LAC) to undertake the construction of 8,000 homes and infrastructure.Former Finance Minister Gillmore Hoefdraad welcomed this.“This is unique.This is a direct foreign investment to which the State does not have to commit any financial consequences.We have always said that we can attract foreign investment capital,” said Hoefdraad.The China LAC Fund was set up to provide financial support to Chinese companies operating in the region against soft loans.The loan agreement between Broad Homes and China LAC was signed in the presence of Hoefdraad and Peggy Bouterse, authorized representative of Suriname.The money would remain in Suriname - Hoefdraad stated - because raw materials and parts would be purchased locally.The first US$50 million had already been transferred to Broad Homes Suriname.Broad Homes Suriname in the sea with SPSBBroad Homes Suriname aims to have completed 200 homes by the end of 2016, said general manager Jimmy Jiang Jie.Broad Homes teamed up with the Surinamese Postal Savings Bank (SPSB), which managed the funds for the government's housing program.According to Jiang, Broad Homes had no intention of “building and then leaving.”She would be there for a long time.In November 2016, a housing contract was signed between Broad Homes International and the Surinamese Post Spaarbank (SPSB).Jimmy Jiang Jie said that between US$300 to US$500 million would be invested.The SPSB would provide loans through the Bouwfonds.Finance Minister Hoefdraad praised the perseverance of Broad Homes International.In a short time, a factory was built in Suriname.The real work could begin.The first houses were expected to be there in January 2017.But, then it became quiet, anxiously silent around Broad Homes Suriname with so many pulled out of the ground.The Ministry of Public Works announced at the end of April 2021 that the status of Broad Homes Suriname PC Factory was not clear.Founded in 2015, the company is said to produce 3,000 homes per year.Until the end of April 2021, no factory representative had come into view.Public Works Minister Riad Nurmohamed announced an investigation.“We're going to see what's going on there.What was the deal?We cannot find those documents.”The factory would build prefab homes in any model.The houses would also be exported to the region as kits.The minister did see potential in the housing factory.He would take the initiative to contact the company.He wanted to know whether it is possible to revive the housing factory.But, the minister told Dagblad Suriname this week: "Unfortunately, I have not invited Broad Homes yet."The editors of Dagblad Suriname also tried to get an answer from Broad Homes Suriname and Broad Homes in China about the current state of affairs regarding the factory in Smalkalden, but there were no answers and/or reactions.Meanwhile, Guyana seems more than happy to supply its prefab homes, from its own factory, to Suriname.This was announced in mid-February this year by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi during a press conference after returning from the neighboring country.His Guyanese colleague is said to have promised that such housing can be delivered.Santokhi then said that he also wants such a factory in Suriname….But, that factory was and is already there….. however it does look a bit gloomy, empty and lost in Smalkalden.Dagblad Suriname – founded on June 6, 2002 Publisher: FaFam Publishing NV Office: Zwartenhovenbrugstraat 154 POBox: 975, Paramaribo – Suriname Phone: (+597) 426-336 Telefax: (+597) 471-718