BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THIS week’s Cabinet meeting has resulted in the body’s approval of several new residential and institutional developments in St. Kitts, as well as their receipt of several key progress updates on existing projects.

According to the Post-Cabinet Briefing, final approval has been given for lots identified in various locations in St. Kitts to be used for the construction of 500 homes. The move was taken upon the recommendation of a joint meeting of the Ministry of Housing and Agriculture, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

The release further states that additional approval has been given for the distribution of land for residential purposes under the Special Land Distribution Initiative (SLDI), and that the identified and approved sites include Sandy Point, St. Pauls, Dieppe Bay, Saddlers and Tabernacle, among others. Accommodations have also been made for the extension of the Cunningham Housing Development in Cayon.

Under the SLDI, Cabinet has also approved a new residential development plan for Lodge, which will consist of 11.2 acres accommodating about 90 lots and will be adjacent to the existing Lodge Extension NHC Housing Development. These lots will be immediately distributed to applicants whose requests have been pending for some time.

In further response to the increasing demand by nationals for residential lots, the briefing revealed that Cabinet had approved similar residential development expansions in Stapleton Garden, Keys Village and Stonefort, and that pending land applications for those areas would shortly be fulfilled.

Additionally, Cabinet has mandated the distribution of land to a private day-care centre in Cayon, a Moravian church in Keys Village, the New Birth Tabernacle Church in Cayon and to several churches in Sandy Point. The release stated that similar applications had been approved for land in the Lime Kiln Commercial and Institutional Development where churches, schools and business places are to be located.

Progress reports on several projects were also received and discussed during Cabinet. These include the Trinity/Boyds playfield, the Frigate Bay Pond Development and the Potato Bay Project.

Although the reports indicated there had been setbacks, Cabinet has been assured “commendable progress” on the projects. The release further stated that the Ministry of Sports hopes to soon complete the bidding process on the Trinity/Boyds playfield and have construction commence in March.

The briefing also revealed Cabinet’s intentions to enhance the Halfway Tree playfield, including a renovation of the existing building, construction of a roof over its bleachers, lighting of the field, fencing and improvement of the drainage system around the playfield.