Pay your rent on time

HOUSING Minister Keith Rowley yesterday made a plea for existing and future tenants to pay their rents on time, explaining that the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the ministry were currently conducting a drive to recover outstanding payments. The minister pointed out that even though rental units were affordably priced, there were existing tenants  owing as much as $24,000 in rent. “This figure, at a rental of $200 per month, is not one that developed overnight,” noted Rowley. “We are appealing to you to make your payments.”

The minister said his ministry was willing and ready to work with tenants  who are interested in rectifying their outstanding arrears, and to regularise the homes of those who were living in apartments owned by deceased relatives. He also pointed out that “necessary action” would be taken against those who were neither willing nor cooperative with the authority during the collection drive. Rowley made these points yesterday while addressing a function to mark the sod-turning for the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago’s (UDeCOTT) Lady Young Road Garden apartments. The project, which is expected to cost $75 million, will see the construction of 284 two-bedroom apartments in nine four-storey buildings, on 6.5422 hectares of land. The buildings are expected to be set within landscaped grounds in a residential type setting.

A garden, complete with active and passive recreational areas, is expected to be developed, as well as a paved parking area to accommodate 409 vehicles. Rowley also pointed out, to the pleasure of the residents who attended the function, that future construction projects such as the establishment of a community centre/home work centre, day care centre, post office and a police post, would be incorporated into the development with the aim of creating a holistic community. The project, the minister noted, would not only be of benefit to those who are going to be living in the houses, but would also create employment opportunities for the people of the area, as well as a wide cross-section of the country including contractors, tradesmen, hardware stores and quarries.

He also called on the contractor to use as many people from within the area of development as possible, to ensure that more money is spent within the area. In his address, MP for Laventille East/Morvant and Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, pointed out that the ultra-modern facility depended on the neighbourhood to develop an ultra-modern attitude. He also called on small contractors and skilled individuals from within the area to visit the job site to benefit from the construction in the same way that their counterparts would benefit from having the apartments constructed in the area. MP for Laventille West Eulalie James and UdeCOTT chairman Calder Hart also spoke at the function.