Following the historic cabinet meeting in Freeport on Tuesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie held a press conference at the Grand Lucayan. Immediately after, the contract for 36 new homes was signed. Shown from left, seated, are: Bernie Davis, Manager of Ministry of Works; Kenred Dorsett, Minister of Housing; the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama; and Kevin Stuart, Deputy Chairman, Bahamas Mortgage Corporation. Shown behind, are the local contractors. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – While in Grand Bahama for a historic cabinet
meeting last Tuesday, Minister of the Environment and Housing the Hon.
Kenred Dorsett, made the announcement that the Government Housing
Project would be advanced on the island. His announcement was at a
press conference held at the Grand Lucayan on Tuesday.
Minister
Dorsett stated that he was proud to announce the issue of 36 contracts
to 13 local Grand Bahamian contractors who will begin construction of
homes in Bahamia West Replat.
He said “the first order of
business is to build homes where there is infrastructure that keeps the
cost of the houses down. In West Bahamia Replat the Ministry does not
have to put in water or electricity. All of the infrastructure is there,
I’m just building homes and providing keys”.
“I think it
is timely to begin the construction of these homes because the Bahamas
Mortgage Corporation has confirmed through its Chairman and Deputy
Chairman that there are enough bodies to fill these homes, and I feel as
long as there is a demand for housing and people can qualify for the
mortgage, we will make every effort to make inventory available for
Bahamians.
“Not only that, it provides a great injection
into the economy of Grand Bahama because some 300 jobs for skilled and
some unskilled construction workers.”
Addressing the
contractors, Minister Dorsett told them he was happy to work with them,
but strongly advised that “the Ministry of Housing believes in
meritocracy. If you want more work, then you do good [work]!”
The average cost of these homes will be a little over $100,000, depending on the size of the home.
He said the Ministry of Housing looks forward to having an opening of these homes by the end of the year.
Funding for this housing project will be provided by National Insurance Board.