No overhead lines at new housing project

“This is one of the first projects of this size where you don’t see electricity poles and wires. They are all underground. This is a very pleasant first world environment in a public sector housing programme. This is 2020. You didn’t have to wait until 2020 to see it. 2020 has come early to TT,” Rowley boasted.

As far as possible, he said, the HDC would go “underground” with other housing projects throughout the country. “It’s a little more costly, but this is the new HDC,” he noted.

Project consultant, Imtiaz Hosein, said the removal of overhead lines in the East Grove project has set the stage for the kind of modern development that would be seen throughout the country. He said, for TTEC, going underground with their wires was like a guinea pig project.

Noting that East Grove was one of the finest locations in the country, Rowley recalled some of the difficulties encountered when the project first started, including a courthouse battle with farmers who occupied the land.

“The entire project was in the hands of one contractor, and he got into difficulties, but we replaced him with small and medium-sized contractors to get the job done.

“Also, the area was formerly utilised for other things, not all uplifting, and Government had to defend its actions in the courthouse. There were those who had unauthorised occupation of the land and engaged in illicit activities, and wanted to go to court to prevent us from building houses in the area,” Rowley said.

He said for the fiscal year 2004 to 2005, 6,800 housing units had been completed and, by the end of 2006, the HDC would like to have initiated another 5,517 in areas like Rio Claro, Barataria, Diego Martin, Malabar, Princes Town, Point Fortin, Federation Park, Toco, Moruga and Couva North. He said the ministry is facing hurdles in projects in five other areas, but hopes to start them before the end of the year. “The construction of 2,000 units in the Port-of-Spain area has been delayed, but we would like to initiate the programme in this fiscal year. In Fyzabad, we’re awaiting clearance from the Environmental Management Authority for 400 units.

We want to proceed with that next month. And we’re doing an Environmental Impact Assessment for another 400 units at Guave Road, Chaguaramas,” Rowley disclosed.

The Housing Ministry is well on the way in preparation for the construction of another 7,000 housing units in the fiscal year 2006 to 2007, the minister also noted. These units would be in areas such as Belmont, Cocorite, St Augustine, Valencia, San Raphael, Bon Air, Tobago, Fyzabad, Manzanilla, Mayaro, La Brea and Enterprise, he said.

“And that would not be the end. The housing programme would be an ongoing one where a 1,000 units would be added each year.”

Slipping into what sounded like election mode, Rowley shouted, “So who want to march and shout and bad talk, could do so! The last Government built 461 houses in six years and we built 400 houses in Ramgoolie Trace alone. We are building houses all over the country and we reject accusations of ulterior motives. We have one motive, to build houses for those who need them.”

“If you know the difference between us and them, if you can identify who ‘them’ is, you will understand how Government policy can change your life.” He said Government will expend a substantial amount of national effort and resources to alleviate the housing problem in the country.