HOPEFUL MOVE

CITY RESIDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO RELOCATION

By Shamar Blunt

Some residents of Greenfield in The City are optimistic but cautious about government’s plans to move a number of them from the congested urban area into new housing units at Whitepark Road.
During last week’s debate in the Lower House on the Appropriation Bill 2023, Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance, Dwight Sutherland revealed that several persons in Greenfield would be moved into the new light gauge steel houses currently being constructed at Whitepark Road, St Michael.
When a team from Barbados TODAY visited the community on Monday, some residents didn’t want to publicly comment on planned move. However most of them agreed that the relocation was one that has been promised for several years, and as such, it would be good to see if it finally comes to fruition.
One female resident who did not wish to be identified, said that though the move did not concern her too much, some of the residents may find it a good opportunity.
“It’s years now since they say we were moving, so if they moved I think it would be a really good idea [but] I don’t fight up nothing, I does just go with the flow. The last thing the [Ministry of Housing] tell us to do is to make we self comfortable. We started to make ourselves comfortable, and the move came up again, but… it would be a good move,” she said.
The resident, who was in the process of completing renovations to her home, said she was not sure if the relocation would affect her directly, but would comply if asked to do so.
“I would got to comply with whatever they do, but I would hope that it does not affect me, [and] they would just move [some] houses, and just let we that was here for over 70 and 80 years to stay.”
Meanwhile, Lambert Alleyne, a retired construction worker who lived in the area since 1947, said that the planned move does not worry him, as he already owns two homes.
“I aint feel no way, I got a house already, two, so [if they take two] give me back two. That [move] is for who aint got none yet. It don’t worry me.”
shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb