Shortage of lumber hampering completion of new houses for volcano victims – PM

THE NEGOTIATIONS with deputy prime Minister, Montgomery Daniel over the purchase of a parcel of land at Sandy Bay is not yet concluded.

This was disclosed by prime minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Wednesday, June 8 during his weekly session on NBC Radio where he deals with a range of issues. The negotiations for Daniel’s lands was raised as he addressed the rebuilding of houses that were destroyed or damaged during last year’s volcanic eruptions.

“The negotiations between the chief surveyor and Montgomery Daniel have not been concluded, ” Gonsalves said.

The property which is owned by minister Daniel, the Parliamentary Representative for North Windward, is to be used for the construction of 20 houses in Sandy Bay.

Gonsalves said if the chief surveyor comes to an agreement with minister Daniel, he (the prime minister) will publicly reveal what is the agreement.

These houses will be built with the assistance of the Mustique Company, and a further 21 houses under this project, will be built at Orange Hill. Daniel’s residence on the property at Sandy Bay is earmarked to be used as a health facility.

Speaking about the 27 houses which have already been built at Orange Hill, Gonsalves said the Roads Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA), is now building roads and putting down other infrastructure, while minor works are ongoing on the houses themselves.

The prime minister estimates that they should be fully ready in another month or so.

He also explained that the ongoing repair work on homes which were damaged by the volcano is being adversely affected by a shortage of lumber.

According to the Prime Minister, “right now, we don’t have any plywood in the country.”

He also spoke of the difficulty in getting 5X8 or groove ply and the unavailability of 1X2 lumber to carry out necessary repair work.