Not enough lands, says Housing Minister

Minister of Housing, Andrew John, says limited land availability remains one of the country’s major development challenges, noting that space must be carefully balanced between agricultural use and residential expansion.

“The space must be shared between agriculture and housing”, he stated in the House of Parliament on Wednesday, February 11, during his contribution to the 2026 National Budget debate. Minister John outlined several initiatives aimed at addressing housing concerns, including a pilot programme targeting the informal settlement in Diamond Estate. A total of $150,000 has been allocated under the programme to provide essential utilities such as water and electricity to residents in the area.

“During my walk around in campaign season, I was alarmed at the number of pit latrines that still exist in our country”, he said. The minister explained that the conditions observed during his visits to communities, particularly in Diamond, highlighted the urgent need for improvement. He emphasized that a tangible effort would be made to upgrade the settlement early in 2026.

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