CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (MAY 26, 2009) -- The provision of roads to any community is a basic amenity and not a luxury, was a view shared by Minister of Social Development in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Hensley Daniel while on a visit to the Golden Grove Housing Development, St. Johns Parish on Monday.
The Minister who is also the area representative was in the just over one year old community, for a firsthand look of 500 meters of road under construction there.
“There was a view that the provision of the road is a luxury, I don’t think so. I think the provision of the road is a basic amenity which helps to facilitate access and every great country is built on a good transport system. So our people here can access the other communities easily.
“I want to say again we remain committed to ensuring that all of the people we represent are sufficiently provided for,” he said.
The Minister explained that though times were hard throughout the world, it would be more difficult if the houses were allowed to deteriorate as a result of poor infrastructure.
“I want to say to the community here that in us [NIA] you have a government and a representative who is sensitive to the needs of the working people in the community, sensitive to the needs of the ordinary people of the community.
“We [NIA] continue to say the road to development is the development of roads and we believe the houses here would be devalued if the roads were left in a permanent state of disrepair,” he said.
Mr. Daniel said though the new roads would raise the value of the real estate in the area, the Administration was also building communities.
Meantime, Contracts/Projects Manager of Surrey Paving and Aggregate Mr. Desmond Lewis who was part of the visiting officials to the construction site, in an overview of the project indicated that construction had commenced on May 22 and was slated for completion by May 29th.
“We are here to report that we are working in conjunction with the Nevis Housing and Lands Development Corporation (NHLDC) with a view to developing infrastructure with a few housing developments within the Nevis area…
“We are placing curb and slipper drainage along with a proper base and what we are going to place priming as soon as we have finished the base. This work in conjunction with good negotiations with the people from NHLDC will cost approximately US$55, 000,” he said.
Assistant General Manager of the NHLDC Mrs. Alverine Williams who was also present said the Corporation was pleased to provide the necessary infrastructure for all the projects it had administered and the Golden Grove Community was no different.
However she had words of advice for motorists who would ply the road when it was completed.
“I trust that a level of prudence would be exercised in the way the roads are managed and used and also maintained,” she said.
Also present was Deputy Chairman of the NHLDC and Legal Advisor in the NIA Hon. Patrice Nisbett.
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