Sutherland formulates plan to provide housing solutions for storm victims

Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dwight Sutherland is formulating a plan to provide housing solutions for Hurricane Elsa and the freak storm victims by the end of 2022.

Speaking with members of the media following a thanksgiving church service at the Ellerton Wesleyan Holiness Church this evening to celebrate his victory at the January 19 General Elections, Sutherland said continuing the Government’s repairing and replacement of houses for families displaced by the passage of the 2021 hurricane is one of his main priorities at this time.

“Within the Ministry we have some challenges with persons who have been struck by Hurricane Elsa and the freak storm. We have hundreds of people who are still waiting on the Government, but they have given us a new mandate on January 19.

“And as I enter that Ministry my first day was on Thursday and I intend to create a plan that will see every single homeowner who was struck by Hurricane Elsa dealt with in this year 2022. I am hoping that we can finish everything within the end of the financial year but that might not be possible based on the amount of houses affected by Hurricane Elsa,” he said.

Also pledging to carry out the ruling Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) mission of building 10 000 houses over a three-year period, Sutherland said he is aware that many Barbadians, especially the working class, are hopeful to own a piece of the rock. He said this is why Government sees it fit that every single person who wants a home gets one.

However, the Minister acknowledged that there is an existing backlog of hundreds of Barbadians who have been requesting housing solutions over the years.

“The Prime Minister has asked me to address that firstly as well. So, I have several things to address before the end of the financial year and I will certainly prioritize those persons who have applied to the National Housing Corporation (NHC) over the years and have not seen the light of the day.

“I will be championing that cause on behalf of the Government to ensure that that backlog is dealt with firstly and thereafter we intend to build out the housing stock to have not just houses, but safe resilient houses that are affordable for every single one in this country,” Sutherland said.

The Member of Parliament noted that this is the third Ministry he has been assigned to in the last four years. Sutherland served as Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Commerce and Youth, Sports and Community. (AH)