PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES MAJOR HOUSING INITIATIVES

Report filed by Jamie J. Roacher – News Reporter

Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has revealed more about government’s plans to accelerate housing initiatives this year.
He says despite a slowdown in construction caused by COVID-19, National Housing delivered 80 homes to residents in 2020.
He says they are hoping to double that amount this year.
The Prime Minister says the government will also accelerate a program to sell land to local contractors at concessionary rates.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority or CHAPA is managing this project.
The government wants contractors to build affordable homes for sale to citizens and residents.
The Prime Minister says the response has been positive.

He says over the next 18 months, several contractors will construct 629 homes in these areas at an estimated cost of 200-million dollars.
The Prime Minister says the homes will then be sold at different prices, starting at 180-thousand dollars.
Meantime, he says Antigua & Barbuda is partnering with UNOPS and Sustainable Housing Solutions or SHS that are seeking to construct 10,000 homes in the Caribbean.
He says they will construct at least 3000 homes in Antigua & Barbuda under the 10-year project.
The Prime Minister says the homes will include solar panels, waste-to-energy technology, and mosquito-repellant coating.

The Booby alley housing project is also key to government’s housing agenda and will advance in 2021.
It’s part of a larger 100 million dollar project funded by the Chinese.
A total of 250 homes will be constructed through the grant in various parts of the country, including Barbuda.