PM Roosevelt Skerrit said the government will be showcasing the design plans for 150 proposed houses in Roseau. He revealed that two sites have been chosen for the building constructions, one at Riverbank and the other opposite the Dominica Grammar School. He said he will give a detailed plan for the construction very shortly.
According to Skerrit, the 150 houses will not only solve the problem of accommodation in the city, it will also provide spaces for small businesses to thrive in Roseau. This is largely because the proposed houses will shelter people on the top floors, and their ground floors rented out to the public at affordable rates.
“Rent is prohibitive for many people trying to make a living and to start small businesses so while we are renting to them it will be at a nominal rate,” Skerrit said. “We don’t want to displace people in the process. We are trying to find a marriage, so to speak, for all of those competing issues.”
He disclosed that Roseau was chosen for the project because it is very suitable for residential structures; while most other cities in the Caribbean are more commercial in nature. He added that suitable accommodation is always a problem in Roseau and rents are very prohibitive, so the 150 houses will resolve the problem.
He noted that earlier settlers had moved out to Canefield East, Wallhouse and Castle Comfort for better housing solutions.
Meanwhile, the DLP administration has revealed that several road construction projects have been slated for the south and east coasts. He said the first part of the project will commence in December or January and it will be financed by the United Kingdom.
“We have funds already allotted for the Loubiere to Bagatelle road,” the prime minister said. The UK Government is providing the financing for that. “We have for Gwan Diable all the way to Castle Bruce, all the way to Kalinago Territory, on to Pagua and then from Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere. That’s about EC $120M or so. The tendered documents have been posted on the World Bank website, I’ve been advised.”
Skerrit noted that a lot of positive things are happening simultaneously in the country, and the people should be ready for greater development when the DLP wins the coming general elections.
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