Housing Ministry to build 1,064 houses in Tunapuna, Piarco

The Ministry of Housing and Settlements will build 4,388 housing units in this fiscal year (2003-2004), with 1,064 of them being in the Tunapuna and Piarco area.

The areas with the highest number of units are Couva with 500 and Arima with 324. Construction will also take place in Port-of-Spain, Tobago, Chaguanas, San Juan, Laventille, Sangre Grande, Penal, Debe, Rio Claro, Mayaro. Responding to questions from the Member of Parliament for Caroni East, Ganga Singh about government’s housing and refurbishment programmes, Housing Minister Martin Joseph announced that government through its Accelerated Housing Programme which is funded through the Inter-American Development Bank will spend $299,973,000.

Joseph said outstanding contracts are to be awarded. The Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee will facilitate the construction of 160 units. Joseph said in 2002, $3.7 million was budgeted for refurbishing the National Housing Authority’s apartments and sewerage facilities. Over the years funding has not been sufficient to do remedial work as a result of which the entire rental stock as well as sewerage treatment facilities “deteriorated considerably.” Cabinet has agreed for the budget to be increased to $67.6 million with funding from the Urban Development Corporation of TT.

Although only buildings and sewerage treatment facilities in urgent need of repairs had been earmarked for upgrade, due to the state of disrepair Joseph said it was decided that all 351 buildings should undergo painting as well as major overhaul of their plumbing, roofing and electrical wiring. Work began on April 2002 and so far $76.8 million has been spent on repairs. Joseph said 249 buildings have been painted, 85 apartment buildings had their plumbing upgraded and 65 had major repairs and replacement of roofs. A total of 47,628 people were employed in the project.