BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS early as next month, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis could see the launch of the Government of National Unity’s Housing Policy which, according to Prime Minister Timothy Harris, would be one of incentives.
While appearing on the Government’s radio programme “Working for You” on Wednesday (Jan. 27), Prime Minister Harris received a call from an individual who complained that she should have gotten a house in the Halfway Tree area, but for some reason she is yet to receive it.
It was during his response to the caller Dr. Harris disclosed that the Minister of Housing – the Hon. Eugene Hamilton – was charged with the responsibility of proposing a housing policy for the Team Unity Government which would address these and other issues.
“I will hope to get this matter addressed in a quick way. I am certain that the Minister of Housing is listening. In any event, he is charged with the responsibility of bringing a policy paper to the Cabinet so that we could make a determination, not just at this particular case which you referenced, and for which I would need to get more information from him, but generally the housing policy of Team Unity...and we will unfold that.
“The housing programme, we would want to unfold that within the next month or so and I will ensure that the Ministry of Housing moves in deliberate speed and thoughtfulness to ensure that we are in a position to meet that particular timeframe.”
For many years the National Housing Corporation was viewed as the entity that provides homes to individuals but, as Dr. Harris explained, under the housing policy/programme, emphasis would be placed on facilitating and incentivising the purchase of land as a stepping stone to home ownership.
“So 2016 then would be a year of action in terms of the start of the Team Unity’s Housing Programme which shall be comprehensive. It shall not be just about NHC building homes, it will also be about how can the government incentivise individuals to build their own homes. How can we, for example, by making land available at giveaway prices ensure that those individuals who can are able to acquire land and then move on to the next stage in terms of advancing the property development.
“It will be about how we make life easier for many who are in arrears in terms of programmes. And we’ll have waivers built in into the these agreements in terms of programmes that would lead to a reduction in interest rates where possible and practical. So it would be a wide-based programme that ensures quality housing is available at affordable space but also provide incentives for private people to become involved in the acquisition of their own home rather than the solution only being state-driven.”
