Government to build houses for disabled

Very soon, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines will initiate the building of houses for economically disadvantaged disabled people.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves was speaking at a press conference on Monday when he highlighted the start of the new initiative, {{more}}which will see houses being built of treated plywood for “poor economically disadvantaged or indigent persons with striking physical or mental disabilities.”

“These houses will be one bedroom self contained apartments, bedroom, bath and toilet, kitchenette, dining area and living room. They will have a wall base and plywood superstructure, plumbing and electrical wiring, the galvanize roof. The approximate cost will be about $37,000 each,” he explained.

The Prime Minister stated that it is expected that these houses will be built on existing family lands.

Gonsalves declared that the pro-ject “has the blessing of Almighty God” as he explained that when he first spoke of it, he suggested going to Jamaican construction firm Tankweld to credit materials.

According to the Prime Minister, his contact at Tankweld called a day after his announcement and told him that the company would like to know if he needed more materials, in addition to those that were given on credit for the last December floods.

“This is a programme which is needed to be done for the disadvantaged, the poor, the indigent who have suffered with their disabilities, physical disabilities. We have to make them live out their years in relative comfort and care and though things are challenging, because of world economic situation and the disasters we have had; notice creatively how we can find places,” the Prime Minister said.

Gonsalves noted that the project will begin with 100 houses and that the Ministry of Social Development is working along with the Ministry of Housing to procure a list of names.

This housing programme joins the others that have been initiated under the current administration which includes the low and no- income housing programme, 100 per cent mortgage for public servants, tax concessions for housing developers, land distribution for housing and the housing programme for victims of natural disasters. (BK)