Funds Approved To Start Infrastructure Works In Drummonds
The Legislative Assembly has approved 224,000 dollars to start the process of improving the conditions of some households on the island.
According to the submission that was approved on Tuesday several households on Montserrat are living in deplorable and unhealthy conditions and need urgent permanent housing solutions.
Among these households are seven critical cases which were part of the Immediate Housing Scheme (Emergency Temporary Housing) funded by the United Kingdom in
1997 and 1998.
This scheme sought to curb the acute housing shortages quickly, with the provision of homes constructed from T-111 plywood sheets which have long passed their lifespan and have now become substandard and decrepit.
According to the government these houses are to be rebuilt as persons living in the Temporary Wooden Structures or Family Units are plagued with issues of rapid building deterioration coupled with issues of poor ventilation, plumbing and drainage defects, rotting floors and corroded roofs from the effects of weather and saline mist, which are exposing the tenants to varying degrees of health and safety hazards.
It says the income levels of these households are insufficient to meet the cost of maintenance, repairs, or reconstruction, and the situation demonstrates the high levels of vulnerability and deep need for housing assistance on the island.
Parliamentary Secretary, the honourable Veronica Dorsette Hector welcomed the allocation of the funds but pushed the government to do more.
The approved funding is to start preliminary activities such as site clearance, surveys, general earthworks, road, and utilities in order to implement Phase 1 of the project.
Funds for the project is provided by the FCDO under CIPREG.