Houses, land distributed to Georgetown families

As one chapter comes to a close, another opened for residents of the Georgetown community, with the handover of five homes and 62 house lots this week.{{more}}

With the handover of the homes and plots, the shelters that were set up following the passage of Hurricane Tomas in October 2010, and the subsequent flooding in the area six months later, were scheduled to be officially closed today, with the last residents expected to move into their new homes at Langley Park.

The shelters were said to have cost more than $700,000 to operate over the period.

Area representative and Minister of Housing Montgomery Daniel, speaking at the handover ceremony, informed the gathering that the construction of the houses took just under six weeks to complete, at a cost of $275,000.

$196,000 of that sum came from the Mustique Charitable Trust.

Daniel congratulated the contractors and workers, whom he said had worked extremely hard on the project, for their completion of the homes in record time, and thanked the Housing and Land Development Corporation (HLDC) for delivering the homes to the former displaced residents.

He also thanked the Mustique Charitable Trust for their contribution to the initiative.

“I believe words are not enough to express our deepest appreciation to the Mustique Charitable Trust, for partnering with the government in ensuring corporate responsibility in this project.

“Your organization has really assisted at a time when there was a need, and I want to, on behalf of the recipients to thank you for coming to their rescue at a time when it was really needed. I am sure that the beneficiaries of this project will always remember your kind assistance.”

Speaking on behalf of the Mustique Charitable Trust, Chairman Roger Pritchard said that his organization is proud to be working in partnership with the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines and other organizations, indicating that the Trust has already donated close to $2 million, since its inception in 2008.

“This really is by any standards a tremendous effort… to get this project done on time was impressive. This allows me to go back and give a message to the people who made these donations, that things can happen in St Vincent, they can happen quickly, and it can be done effectively,” Pritchard noted.

“…I hope the… Jacobs, Abbott, Jack, Williams and Delecia families enjoy their new accommodation,” Pritchard added.(JJ)