By June next year, residents of Byera may be presented with more houses built by the government. This is the promise of area respresentative and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.{{more}}

Gonsalves, while making an address at the handing over of No-Income houses in Byera on Monday, November 29, 2010, said that houses will be built to accommodate persons who have requested them from the government. The no-income houses are designed for the indigent, at little or no cost to them.

“I have enough land here. I will build some more,” he said. He, however, did not specify what type of house will be built.

Twelve No-income houses were handed over to several residents of the area, as well as persons from surrounding villages. Nine of the houses are wall structures, while three were built from timber. Seven of the wall houses have two bedrooms, while only two have one bedroom. The wooden houses all have two bedrooms. According to Gonsalves, the timber houses were built to determine the cost compared to the concrete houses, and whether the government would build more board houses.

Referring to the houses built by the government in the area, Gonsalves described them collectively as a housing community with great quality.

Thirty houses have been built by the government in Manning Village, as the community is called. The village was named after former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning, and was developed on eight acres of land. Early development funds for the project came from a TT$4 million donation from the then Patrick Manning led government of Trinidad and Tobago.

The houses have running water and electricity and also have access to Internet owing to the newly installed Next Generation Network from telecommunications company LIME.

Gonsalves who stated that it was a tremendous joy to be able to help the poor of the country, and added that he felt blessed to know that he was in a position to assist such persons in the community.

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Housing and Land Development Corporation, Berisford Phillips, stated that the delivery of the houses to residents is a timely one. He added that with persons losing their homes all over the world due to the global economic crisis, the Corporation can take pride in themselves knowing that they can improve the standards of people.

Minister of Housing, Senator Saboto Caesar, giving brief remarks at the event, stated that it was a blessing that the persons were able to receive houses so soon after the passing of Hurricane Tomas, when in other neighbouring countries, persons were still homeless and rebuilding their communities. He joined Phillips in urging the home owners to take good care of the houses.(OS)