Govt Shares Housing Plans

Details

Economy

Thursday, 24 May 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The government plans to inject millions into the construction industry through more housing and other construction projects, Finance Minister Harold Lovell said at a UPP rally in All Saints on Tuesday.

The minister said the UPP will also inject millions into roads and other building initiatives, through funding available from OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), an intergovernmental organisation of 12 oil-producing countries.

The loan, a portion of which is still being negotiated, comes as Antigua & Barbuda clears up a series of back debt, Lovell said. Negotiations for the funds were concluded recently in Washington DC.

“They (OPEC) have now said that now that Antigua and Barbuda is back on a firm path, and we have proper disciplined and visionary leadership… they have said that they are going to assist us with infrastructural work," the minister said. “This will create jobs for our people right here in Antigua and Barbuda."

He added that several new housing initiatives are to begin in the coming months, including one undertaken by contractor Miles Codrington - brother of Housing Minister Chanlah Codrington, in Lightfoot.

The housing aspect of this spending initiative comes on the heels of two similar projects undertaken by the government through the Central Housing And Planning Authority (CHAPA) and the Ministry of Agriculture - the North Sound and Follies housing projects.

One project lost its contractor over alleged non-payment after the first phase, and the other due to complaints from its targeted buyers that the pricing was out of reach. The government had proposed that the homes in the North Sound development be available primarily to public servants.

Efforts to secure an update on the status of both projects recently proved futile.

Meanwhile, Minister Lovell said on Tuesday that just last week, himself, Prime Minister Spencer and others agreed over a meal with new investors to the construction and operation of a major factory in Antigua that would produce construction material.

In addition, the investor also proposes to construct a housing development project through a joint venture with the government.

“That's going to be more construction work again,” Lovell said.

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