ST. GEORGE, GRENADA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2010_ Government officials say the Chinese Housing Project, originally scheduled for completion by October 2011, may be finished much earlier.
Initially, the Chinese gave an 18-month deadline to finish the houses. Work at two sites, Mt. Gay and Soubise, is now 75% completed.
“But based on the way things are looking now, I foresee that they will be completed in 16 months – by the end of August,” said Kitwana Folkes, Planning Officer in the Ministry of Housing, Lands & Community Development.
The Chinese, he explained, “are currently putting on the roof. Even if you have a limited idea of construction you know that once you reach the roof, you are approaching completion. And once that is done, it’s mainly the interior and groundwork to be done.”
The early completion of construction at Mt. Gay and Soubise will allow for at least 333 families to move into new homes by year-end.
The homeowners will be chosen by a five-member selection committee appointed by Cabinet.
Frequente in St. George’s has also been identified as a location for housing construction by the Chinese. Altogether, about 361 families – including 28 for Frequente – will benefit from the project which is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank.
Work at the Frequente site is scheduled to begin at the end of February.
