Leacock against Vincentians going back to wooden houses

Vice President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), St Clair Leacock has expressed his personal rejection of the possibility of wooden houses being built for some people who were displaced by the eruption of La Soufriere volcano last year.

Speaking on the NDP’s New Times programme on Wednesday November 2, Leacock said he was totally against this move.

“I do not support, whether it is with Venezuela, or with Guyana, or any combination, of Vincentians going back to board houses,” Leacock said.

“I don’t care whether they are made from mahogany, greenheart, or whatever it is.

“We have passed that kind of stage.

“I am not accepting those kind of houses as part of the new architecture for accommodation in St Vincent and the Grenadines.”

When he made these comments on NICE radio on Wednesday, Leacock said he was expressing a “personal point.”

Two government ministers recently visited Guyana to seek out the price and other information relating to the purchase of pre-fabricated greenheart houses from that country.

Minister of Transport and Works, Montgomery Daniel, along with Housing Minister, Orando Brewester and two engineers were on the mission in Guyana.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves had disclosed this information on NBC radio on Wednesday October 19.

Minister Daniel said greenheart houses can last as long as 60-70 years.
Also speaking on NBC radio but on Wednesday, November 2 Daniel said the greenheart houses are “much cooler” than concrete houses.

He said it is for this reason why elderly persons prefer to live in board houses.

However, no final arrangement has as yet been put in place to secure the pre fabricated wooden houses from Guyana.

“Cost will drive the programme as to where we go,” Minister Daniel said on Wednesday.

Twenty seven houses were recently constructed at Orange Hill and given out to some of the families who were displaced by the volcanic eruptions.

Apart from rebuilding, the government is also in the process of repairing a number of homes that were damaged during the eruptions of April 2021.