Government bringing ‘No income’ housing

Government is set to begin its latest housing project. Move over middle and low-income housing – here comes “no income” housing!{{more}}

“There are some people who can’t afford to put a proper roof over their heads,” Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said as he spoke at the official handing over ceremony of the Government’s relocation project in Byera last Tuesday, 28, October.

The project is being funded by a US$3.4 million donation by the Hugo Chavez Venezuelan government.

The money will be channeled through the Alba Caribe fund, which is the social development aid fund, an arm of the Petro Caribe agreement.

300 modest houses are expected to be built under this programme, starting with about 100 or so.

Half of the promised funds have been delivered by Venezuela.

Some of the houses will be built on some of the 15 remaining lots in the newly commissioned Manning Village, Byera.

Dr Gonsalves explained that some of the houses will be constructed in areas where recipients may have inadequate “broken down board houses”.

Housing Minister Julian Francis explained that these houses will be built with a special board material from Venezuela that is water and termite resistant and isn’t easily burnt.

He gave the assurance that the houses, while modest, will be well done and be equipped with inside toilet and kitchen

facilities.

At a press conference a couple months ago, when he announced Venezuela’s grant to the project, Dr Gonsalves again defended his government’s foreign policy relating to Venezuela and its leftist leader Hugo Chavez.

“You see the strategic importance of the Petro Caribe agreement? And for those who tell me I must un-sign it (the Petro Caribe agreement)…if you want a Prime Minister to un-sign the Petro Caribe agreement, get one. Not this one,” he said back then. (KJ)