Govt’s ‘10 000-home’ plan on the move, Sutherland

Government is earnestly pressing ahead with its 10 000 home programme, Minister of Housing Dwight Sutherland declared Sunday.

Sutherland disclosed that between last year and so far this year just over 1 000 of that number have been built in partnership with the private sector: 727 homes in 2023 and 304 so far this year.

“The 727 includes [those from] Hurricane Elsa, which made up over 300 of those. But the good news for Barbadians and to the ordinary man and woman who wants to own a house. We’ve started the process. Soon, at Clifton in St Philip, I have 12 houses there waiting for persons to enter.  In Haggatt Hall [St Michael], another 12 [and] when you go to Whitepark Road, it’s 16. When you journey to St Lucy . . . Coconut Hall, there’s another 20.”

However,  the MP for St George South – reserved the announcement of more than 50 houses for his constituents as he spoke to a Barbados Labour Party St George South branch meeting at the Ellerton Community Centre. 

“Brighton just started.  The infrastructure at Brighton . . . we are building 42 at Brighton. And the good news for you, the people of St George South. The Cabinet just approved 56 acres, and, if you average 10 houses per acre, that’s 560 at the minimum and it is in the vicinity of Harmony Cottage. . . . and 27 acres going from [the] White Rabbit [Bar] to St Judes on that land and another 13 acres in that vicinity and on Drax Hall Jump, we have another place five acres.  That’s just over 50-something houses,”

Ministers have also approved a further 140 acres for housing at Vineyard, St Philip, Sutherland told the party faithful, as he revealed a series of land allocations for housing.

“We just approved in Christ Church, 38 starting in this month and another 41 at Coverley . . . And if you look at the land that we have acquired, or that we have identified… 1 700 acres. 

“Multiply that by 10  – 17 000 houses we can build over the period.  . . .  that doesn’t include the ones that stated at HOPE – 154 down West Fair Gardens.  And you have another 36 units at Mullins [St Peter].  Down in Belleplaine [St Andrew], because of the land slippages, there is a five-acre that can give you 50 hardwood houses because of the situation. And I can go from parish to parish to parish and tell you how much land we have as a government to build houses in this country.

“This government’s policy is different from the previous government’s.  The Democratic Labour Party built houses to rent.  We are building houses to own.  Rent money is dead money.  So why put all your money into rent when you can put it into owning a home?  We’re pushing home ownership for ordinary Barbadians. 

“When someone comes and gets a house, NHC doesn’t have enough units for you. Under the 20-year transfer programme, when we have done transfer units, soon to be completed this year, meaning that we’re giving people – they own them. There are only 1 200 units left.  With 29 000 applications, you need to know what has happened in this country.” (RG)