The government of Dominica in collaboration with the Housing Recovery Project (HRP) has granted fifty – seven (57) families with new homes.
This project costed over $EC6 Million dollars and was loan funded by the World Bank. In all, 420 homes will be built in various communities and will cost approximately $US40 Million dollars. Each house will be 550 square feet and $125,000 per house.
Twelve homes were already handed over to persons in December.
During the handing over ceremony at the Dominica State House, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Reginald Austrie said since 2006, the government recognized that housing was a major issue in Dominica.
He said it was recorded that after Hurricane Maria, 23 thousand homes were damage and 5 thousand were completely destroyed out of a housing stock of 30,000.
The senior minster said that for this project, all the homes will be built by local contractors
“The Works were completed by 23 contractors and a total of 483 Dominicans received employment under this program.We’re not even halfway yet and we are only about 69 homes then you can well understand the increase in local contractors, if we can find them… will be very good for the economy in a difficult and challenging period.”
He said it is the government’s responsibility to all these beneficiaries is to ensure that they complete all these homes by 2023, however with the limited number of contractors, increasing cost of construction material and the slow pace of the approval for the designs he is hoping it does not go into overtime.
“We have approved, 210 contracts while we have 118 contracts taking place at various stages at this time. We have 25 homes that are at the foundation level, we have are 35 where the superstructure is already up, and we do the finishing touches on 42 so I’m hoping that before the end of the year, we will be here again, handing over keys to the people of Dominica.”
Meantime, Parliamentary Representative for Roseau Central, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit said benificiers are now better prepared for future adversities and effects of climate change.
“You are now proud owners of more livable homes where you can grow and thrive. Furthermore, you are now better prepared for future adversities especially in light of venerable nature of our Island to the effects of climate change.”
Poponne-Skerrit expressed how pleased she is that persons received their keys now during the hurricane season which she stated is a period when people must keep their guard up and take all the necessary steps to protect properties and lives of our families.
“Your new homes assure you are higher level of comfort and certainty that I am sure you did not have at the start of this hurricane season in June.”
“I encourage all of you to treasure your new structures and take care of it. A good home, we know provides protection and a sense of belonging home is where the heart is and I am thrilled that you are on the threshold of enhanced peace and happiness in your new aboard.”
Out of the 420 homes, the Kalinago Territory will receive over 100 homes.
