Parliamentary Secretary the Honourable Dwayne Hixon is encouraging more persons to invest in areas such as Cork Hill and Foxes Bay, which were abandoned during the volcanic crisis.
Hixon had spearheaded the excavation of the Belham Valley Bridge and re-established Isles Bay Beach Road, which marked an important step in the island’s ongoing programme of infrastructure rehabilitation and resilience building.
Speaking on the radio programme, the “People’s Business” on Wednesday evening, he said persons have bought homes in Foxes Bay and there are individuals currently living in Cork Hill.
He is encouraging others to do the same.
“Because, of course, there are homeowners. Persons have purchased houses in Foxes Bay area, people are living in Cork Hill, and we are encouraging more persons to come home to rehabilitate their homes there. And it’s not only because I’m from that particular area, but I understand and I can see that there’s a shortage of houses. The way I see it, it’s easier to go and rehabilitate some of these houses instead of going and building new.
Mr. Hixon believes it is easier to repair a home in the area because “whereas a ton of steel back then would have been like maybe $1,500, $1,600, now a ton of steel is heading towards $5,000. So building is very expensive. So, if you can go and renovate, and most of the homes in there, there’s a chance for that to happen.”
The Parliamentary Secretary says some persons have already reached out for help. “There’s a stretch of road in the Weeks area that two homeowners approached me, and they actually, want help cleaning up the grounds because they actually want to start doing something. And with the Cork Hill grouping hoping to have a reunion in March, we’re hoping to really, support, give them the support that they need,” he explained.