The Mustique Charitable Trusts will construct 41 houses at a cost of over $4 million in the Red volcano hazard zone in collaboration with the Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA).

The houses will have one, two or three bedrooms, based on the needs of each family and will be complete inclusive of the finishes.

The structures will consist of block and reinforced concrete, and will be built according to local building codes and following hurricane and earthquake resistance guidelines.

BRAGSA will function as the Main Contractor while The Mustique Charitable Trusts will provide the full funding in the amount of EC$4,024,050 for the construction of the 41 houses.

The houses will be built on lands provided by the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines at housing development sites in Sandy Bay and Orange Hill.

Forty-one families will benefit by being relocated to safer locations in their community. The houses are earmarked for families whose homes are currently located in the riverbeds and river coasts in the region north of the Rabacca Dry River who are most impacted by lahars and flooding.

This project falls under the Mustique Volcano Emergency Relief Funds (VERF), which was initiated through the donations from Mustique Homeowners, Guests and Friends of Mustique in immediate response to the eruption of La Soufrière on April 9, 2021. These funds were earmarked to assist the impacted Vincentian people from the Red and Orange Zones.

Chairman of the Mustique Charitable Trusts, Roger Pritchard said the organization was launched “to help disadvantaged persons in St Vincent and the Grenadines with education, health care and in case of natural disasters”.

Pritchard pointed out that he was “pleased to hand over the first phase of the donation of the VERF which was able to raise 10 million dollars in three or four months.

Other projects completed under the Mustique VERF include grocery boxes and water to over 5,000 evacuees, distribution of Relief Supplies to over 14,000 villagers in 28 Villages, Heavy Duty Cleaning Equipment to BRAGSA, NEMO, AIA and Kingstown Town Board, Shower Facilities in 12 School Shelters and 750 Farmers Tool Kits provided to small farmers in the Red and Orange Zones.

The total cost of all Mustique VERF projects to date, including the current Relocation Housing Project is EC$7.4 million.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves commended the Mustique Charitable Trusts for supporting St Vincent and the Grenadines noting that it is important to recognize the donation that they have made. The Mustique Charitable Trust was established in 2008.