Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 22, 2008 (CUOPM)
Over 200 of the NEMA Starter Homes constructed following Hurricane Georges in 1998 will be expanded under the NEMA Housing Improvement Project, financed by the Government of Venezuela.
Minister of Housing, Hon. Cedric Liburd said 458 houses were constructed of which 302 were allocated free to occupants and 146 were sold.
The one-room homes were built to provide shelter for persons whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged as a result of Hurricane Georges.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the completion of the first home under the NEMA Housing Improvement Project, Minister Liburd said of the 458 homes allocated 223 persons requested assistance to expand their houses and several owners have already sign the necessary agreement with the National Housing Corporation (NHC).
He said construction has already begun in some areas and the expansion will consist of a living and dining room and a kitchen.
“The project started in December 2007 with work being done on five (5) homes. The first one to be completed is this one in Newton Ground Village and the other four (4) houses are near completion.
He said that homes in all the constituencies on St. Kitts will be expanded.
“One in Constituency 1; four in Constituency 2; twenty-four (24) in Constituency 3; fifteen (15) in Constituency 4; six (6) in Constituency 5; fifty-one (51) in Constituency 6; eighty-nine (89) in Constituency 7 and thirty-three (33) in Constituency 8,” disclosed Minister Liburd.
He said that the expansion project is expected to get into full gear and construction activities on these NEMA Starter Homes will now be seen all over the country.
Mr. Liburd used the opportunity to congratulate the builder, Mr. Thomas Richards, for completing the work at the home in Race Course, Newton Ground in one month.
“The NHC started the expansion programme under the supervision of Ms. Myia Woods who is quite happy it seems with the improvement to her house. I want to encourage Ms. Woods to enjoy the addition to the NEMA Starter House. Surely this is improving her quality of life and also further empowers Ms. Woods through home ownership,” said Minister Liburd who reiterated his Ministry’s commitment to improving the efficiency in delivering the services demanded by the public and to satisfy their right to safe and comfortable shelter for their families.
Since taking office in July 1995, the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has constructed nearly 3,000 homes compared to 296 homes built by the former People’s Action Movement Administration of the Right Hon. Dr. Sir Kennedy Simmonds.