Gov’t seeking funds to finish Hurricane Elsa home repairs

Ninety-five per cent of homes damaged during Hurricane Elsa five years ago have been repaired, but the Ministry of Housing sought additional funding from Parliament to finish the remaining five per cent.

Chief estate officer of the National Housing Corporation (NHC), William Clarke, provided a detailed update during the House Estimates on the Ministry of Housing’s $138m appropriations request on Wednesday, saying that more than 500 homes have been restored or rebuilt across the island.

“Throughout the process, we’ve completed 505 repairs throughout Barbados. Out of the 265 houses that needed full rebuilding, we’ve already completed 247,” Clarke said.

But funding challenges have slowed the completion of the remaining repairs, he added.

Clarke told the House of Assembly: “First and foremost, funding to complete the other small percentage that has to be done is being put in place now. The prime minister in a discussion we had said she would deal with this on a separate matter, and recently we were told to prepare that document so that we can source the funds to carry out this work. Once that is completed, we should see progress.”

Former housing minister Dwight Sutherland, the St George South MP, took his old ministry to task for incomplete projects, warning that further delays could worsen the condition of the homes.

“Leaving these houses without a roof, without windows, in the type of weather that we’re seeing today… when we wait and we wait, we will end up spending twice as much money on these houses than if we executed in a shorter time frame,” Sutherland said, appealing for an expedited process.

Clarke reassured MPs that completing the Hurricane Elsa housing programme remains a priority.

“Those with roofs not yet on, and windows and doors still to be installed… once funding is secured, we will accelerate the work and get that done,” he said. “The only other challenge is securing the contractors who were in place before.

“We are looking to recoup these workers once funding is in place and training them as needed.”

Some 300 contractors were involved in the Hurricane Elsa programme in a database that has been maintained of those who performed well, Clarke said.

“This allows us to identify contractors who have proper structures in place and a record of quality work. While smaller contractors may not handle large projects, they can still assist in refurbishing older housing stock.”

The NHC official also urged training and support for smaller contractors to ensure that they can continue contributing to future housing projects.

“Smaller contractors may start with a few homes and, through successful completion, gradually scale up. This not only helps complete the current programme but also develops the next generation of qualified housing contractors.”

What to know – Elsa housing restoration

• Over 500 homes have been restored, with most full rebuilds completed.
• St George: 129 homes repaired, 70 rebuilt
• St Philip: 125 homes repaired, 87 rebuilt
• Christ Church: 98 homes repaired, 62 rebuilt
• St Michael: 86 homes repaired
• Other parishes: 19 homes repaired