Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
October 05, 2007
The town house complex at Central Basseterre will welcome its first tenants, perhaps as early as next week as government continues to fulfill its promise of providing affordable housing to residents of St. Kitts and Nevis.
General Manager of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) Wayland Vaughn took Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and Minister responsible for Housing Hon. Cedric Liburd on a tour of the two complexes being constructed at Central Basseterre and at Taylor’s Range in East Basseterre. The touring party was joined by the respective parliamentary representatives for the areas.
“Again I emphasize that a promise made is a promise kept,” Prime Minister Douglas told SKNIS. “We continue to live to the basic [commitments] that were outlined in our [the St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party] Manifesto for 2004 when we were last elected.”The complex at Central Basseterre features three structures that accommodate 25 housing units. The facility at Taylor’s has 10 housing units which should be completed in several weeks.
Hon. Cedric Liburd said that the continued growth of the economy over the past years and the economic empowerment of residents have created a healthy demand for homes. He said that government remains committed to meeting this demand.
“The government continues to look at the shortage of housing throughout St. Kitts,” he said. “We are working [closely] with the National Housing Corporation and also with contractors throughout the country in making sure that we are able to find the solution to providing housing for the people of St. Kitts.”
Minister Liburd noted some other housing initiatives which government will undertake in the near future.
“We also have the NEMA Improvement Homes (locally referred to as “˜half a hog heads’) where the government has agreed to add the second half to the original structure. “[Government] is putting in at least EC $1.5 million to make sure that we can [fund this project].”
A specific housing initiative has been prepared for former sugar workers. The minister of housing revealed that government has secured US$10 million to be used to construct homes for those who meet the criteria.
The minister encouraged all residents who have aspirations to own a house to apply to the National Housing Corporation.