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Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman, speaking at the launch yesterday morning.

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Several members of staff were on hand for the launch of the Ministry’s 50th Anniversary of Independence Celebrations.

GOV’T COMMITTED

Housing programme still a priority

Government has absolutely no intention of abandoning its 20-year programme, which aims to transfer terrace units in its rental portfolio to those who have been tenants of the National Housing Corporation Estates for 20 years and up.

That’s the word from Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman. He made the comments while addressing those attending the launch of the Ministry’s 50th Anniversary of Independence Celebrations at its Country Road office yesterday morning, where seven new trees were planted at the entrance of the building.
 
Meanwhile, speaking to the media following the launch, Minister Kellman explained that the programme is one that Government cannot ignore because it seeks to directly empower close to 3 000 persons. While not able to give details as to how many persons have benefited to date, the Minister said it is “a fair amount” of those who are eligible. He made the comments as he admitted one of the hold-ups right now is financing, disclosing that it will cost Government between $18 million and $30 million to complete.
 
“We are searching for the amount of money that is needed, for the right amount of money that is needed, so that we can finish that project, because it means a lot to Barbadians… 
 
“What we are also saying, those people who can afford to go ahead and complete them on their own, we would have no objections to allowing them to do that, because we are committed to that project because we think that it would make a difference in the lives of people,” he said.
 
The Housing and Lands Minister explained that his Ministry is hoping the financing for the project will come through soon. He made the point as he revealed that they have been in discussions with the Caribbean Development Bank, but are also exploring other options.
 
“When one considers what you are doing there, giving people who never had a home the opportunity to have a home of their own, and not only that, after receiving their papers they can easily take those papers to help their offspring. 
 
“So you are not only empowering those people that are living in the houses, but you are providing collateral so that they can help their families, etc.,” he said. (JRT)
 

 

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