The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will commence a housing repair programme in late August for houses on the northern ends of the country that sustained damage from the eruptions of the La Soufriere Volcano and Flooding from Hurricane Elsa.
This was disclosed by Minister of Housing Hon. Dr. Orando Brewster on Tuesday August 3rd, 2021 at a press conference hosted by the Ministry of National Mobilization and Housing etc. to discuss matters pertaining to the ministry and its approach to relief and recovery post the volcanic eruptions of the La Soufriere Volcano.
“I can assure you that within the next two (2) to three (3) weeks, there will be a massive repair programme happening in the northern areas of the country-the north-western areas and the north-eastern areas as it relates to housing and recovery effort,” the housing minister said.
Dr. Brewster noted that in the 2021 supplementary estimates, parliament approved $11.5 million to aid with housing reconstruction and rehabilitation. He pointed out that $5million is allocated to reconstruction and 6.5 million to the purchasing of building material for the repair of homes affected by the volcanic eruptions and floods.
The housing minister noted that the government has ordered $6.5 million worth of building material, $3.9 million locally and $2.6 million which will be sourced from a regional supplier. “The local suppliers are currently supplying our Arnos Vale storeroom and the regional order is expected to arrive in Port Kingstown on August 8”, he said.
Dr. Brewster noted that the building material will aid those in the north-eastern and north- western areas in returning home as there is still a number of people in public shelters who have not yet been given the all clear to return home. “We will utilize these building material and go about a rapid repair and reconstruction phase”, the housing minister expressed.
He noted that through NEMO and the Ministry of Transport and Works, his ministry got an update on the preliminary assessment and thus far there is a total of five hundred and fifty-three (553) homes identified with some level of damage sustained. “The damage was graded at different levels from level zero right up to level four. For now, we will concentrate on level zero to two which are more smaller repairs, and these will be done in a rapid manner for us to help with the reopening of school”, Minister Brewster noted. He said his ministry will put together a team to facilitate these repairs.
The housing minister noted that the preliminary assessment is stating that over $20 million worth of damage was sustained to homes in the red and orange zones.
Dr. Brewster noted that some lands are already earmarked for the rebuilding of homes but did not disclose when the rebuilding of the homes will commence.
He said the supplementary budget was just a start to the relief effort and noted that cabinet will have to decide as to how they will proceed with regard to the rebuilding process.
