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HUDC Embarks on Two New Developments
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HUDC Embarks on Two New Developments
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Friday, December 01, 2000 – Government is stepping up its programme to give St. Lucians more opportunities to purchase land for home construction or to acquire their own ready-built home. In pursuit of this policy objective, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation is embarking on two new developments. One, along the new Millennium Highway, immediately after the La Toc tunnel, will provide some 18 full service lots, ranging in size from 11,000 to 17,000 square feet, and targeting middle and upper income St. Lucians. The other development at Beausejour, Gros Islet, to be carried out simultaneously, involves the construction of 100 homes for low and middle income St Lucians. Speaking at a ceremony last week to launch both projects, Housing Minister, Hon. Dr. Walter Francois, used the opportunity to re-emphasize Government’s commitment to broadening home ownership among St. Lucians. Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, who spoke at the same ceremony, emphasized why creating opportunities for home ownership is a priority for his Government. "If we own land, we can enter into the economic system and play a meaningful role," he explained. Dr. Anthony issued a special appeal to "the hundreds of young St. Lucians" choosing to invest in in motor vehicles instead of land. Pointing to tax benefits available to land buyers, he endorsed investing in land as a wise decision. He stressed: "It is important that this decision be made now because of the rising price of land and the fact that, increasingly, we have to face the reality of a single market and economy in the region where land will become available for other Caribbean nationals just like land will be available for St. Lucians in other countries. However, what matters most is internal investment." The Prime Minister used the opportunity to impress on HUDC and other housing developers the need for their projects to be environmentally friendly. "There is enough happening around us to indicate very, very clearly how cruel we have been to our environment and how dangerous it has been," he said. "No St. Lucian must ever forget what took place over in the Tou-Rouge and Back Mallet areas, and we have to be constantly reminded that we are paying a price for that kind of development." Dr. Anthony has set HUDC a target of 500 homes to be constructed in five years. Expressing satisfaction with HUDC’s performance, he said the target was attainable. |
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