Duguid reveals Sargeant’s Village public housing development

The National Housing Corporation (NHC) will construct 40 low-income housing solutions on land acquired at Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church, and Housing Minister Dr. William Duguid has pledged to take personal interest in ensuring that the development becomes a “shining star” for the state agency.

His assurance came as he moved the passing of a resolution to approve the acquisition of two parcels of land – 7,021 square metres in total – at Sargeant’s Village for the purpose of housing development.

Dr. Duguid, who is the representative for the Christ Church West constituency where the houses will be constructed, said he had identified the land for development back in 2004, when he was a newly-elected parliamentarian in a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration.

Pointing to the current high demand for housing and Government’s firm belief that access to shelter is a human right, he said the Sargeant’s Village development was just one of several in the works.

“We are continuing to look for places to build houses for people in this country. We also have another 40 acres at Lower Burney that we’re going through a process to be able to access that for housing. There is another 30 acres at Searles that we’re looking to access for housing as well, and then they’re areas in St Lucy that we’re looking for housing as well,” he told the House of Assembly, adding that he would be very much involved in ensuring the houses at Sargeant’s Village are constructed to high standards.

Dr. Duguid acknowledged there had been challenges in ongoing projects, including the rising cost of materials and labour and delays caused by either national shutdowns or COVID cases surfacing on construction sites. However, he said he had been leaning on contractors and agencies to get houses completed as quickly as possible.

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley said he supported the development of housing solutions and expediting access to those houses by poor people.

However, he expressed concern about unsettled land acquisition matters, including at Six Men’s, St Peter and Bay Street, St Michael which is earmarked as the site of a Hyatt hotel.

Responding to questions about the Six Men’s matter, Minister Duguid said he was on top of the issue but could provide no details as the matter was sub judice.

In his contribution, Bishop Atherley also noted that while the focus on squatting is usually on “small-pocketed” individuals, there are many “deep-pocketed” squatters developing business concerns who encroach on lands that are not properly theirs, especially without planning approval and they, too, should be dealt with. (DP)