Race to finish house repairs

Government is promising to complete repairs to hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Elsa before the next hurricane season begins.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dwight Sutherland said it will cost in excess of $70 million, but his ministry was moving ahead with the housing solutions, which included 150 imported houses from China.

Speaking to the media yesterday at Haggatt Hall, St Michael, where the foundation for three quadruplet units were being constructed, Sutherland said while only 15 foundations had been built for the imported prefab homes, he was confident that with logistical bottlenecks clearing up, the 150 units will be built in the next three months.

“There have been questions and comments in media with respect to rebuilding the houses for people who suffered damage during the passage of Hurricane Elsa. I could say that we would have received some 1 300 requests for assistance as a result of damage to the housing stock across the land. We have formed a team between the Urban Development Commission (UDC), the Rural Development Commission (RDC) and the National Housing Corporation (NHC). Thus far we have completed 55 per cent of the rebuilds and repairs and when this project is finished, we will be looking at over $70 million spent,” Sutherland said. (CLM)

Subscribe now to our eNATION edition for the full story.

For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.