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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 89 - Wednesday January 17, 2006 |
Remittances and its contribution to Dominica’s Economy Sean Douglas
Minister for Housing, Hon. Reginald Austrie has outlined the seven components of his Government’s plan to improve the housing situation in Dominica.
The remarks were made at the handing over ceremony of a cheque of EC$3 million to the AID Bank in support of housing development in Dominica by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
The sum of $12 million dollars is being made available to the Government Housing Loans Board and AID Bank for un-lending to certain categories of persons in the public and private sectors.
Under the Shelter Development Programme administered by the AID Bank on behalf of Government, single persons earning $1000 per month or couples earning $1, 500 a month can receive up to a maximum of EC $20 000 for home improvement and EC$ 60 000 for new home construction at an interest rate of 4.75 percent.
In addition, EC $1 million worth of building materials has arrived in Dominica to assist the needy in making repairs to their homes. An initial amount of EC$3 million is being made available. Government will also assist families in the installation of washroom facilities across the country.
At the same time, two model houses from Costa Rica are expected on island and will be erected at Jimmit. Government will make special terms and conditions available for the purchase and procurement of these type homes, which will be constructed on private lands and in Government Housing Schemes.
Austrie also reported that the Chinese Government will provide EC $3 million to assist in improving the housing stock in the Carib Territory. Eight locations in the Territory have already been identified.
Regarding the squatter program, Austrie informed the press that over 175 families, some having squatted for over 20 years, have benefited from this Programme, launched in 2005. These families have bought land at $1 per square foot and are not required to pay any additional costs linked to the purchase of the land.
An initial amount of EC $32.4 million dollars will finance Government’s Housing Revolution. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is providing $29.4 million dollars in the form of a grant and a soft loan while the Chinese Government is providing a grant of $3 million dollars.
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