Ground broken at Stone Fort for Habitat 30, Minister Phillip stresses home ownership vital to raising the standard of living
Basseterre, St. Kitts (CUOPM) – Habitat 30 will make the home ownership dreams of many people across St. Kitts a reality.
The home construction programme, in which 1,000 homes will be built, began Wednesday with the ground breaking ceremony at Stone Fort Estate in the greater Challengers Community.
Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 4 (Challengers to New Guinea), the Hon. Glenn Phillip, speaking at the ceremony, noted that it was in Challengers in 1938 that the first ordinary man and woman became land and homeowners as a result of the generosity of the estate owner there.
“For generations, the people of this community have grown to appreciate the significance of property ownership in their quest to open and expand their own businesses. This spirit of ownership was born here and with time spread across the island. History will once again be written in these environs as some of the 1,000 families in Challengers will purchase the first homes in the federation that will utilise renewable energy in a sustainable effort to make home owners,” said Minister Phillip.
He expressed full and unswerving confidence that Habitat 30 will provide housing solutions for families in St. Christopher 4 as it well as every region of St. Kitts.
“Young men and women will be able to independently establish their families with the pride in knowing that each monthly payment is an investment into an asset that would be passed to their son or daughter and their children. I stand here today, delighted in the knowledge that Habitat 30 continues on the vision and mission of social advancement and the economic empowerment of more of our people. And with unshakable faith I say, Habitat 30 will lead the way to more and more homes being built until all the people in this constituency and this country share in the accomplishments of homeownership,” Minister Phillip told scores of invited guests, including Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Housing, the Hon. Dr. earl Asim Martin; Cabinet ministers; Chairman of the National Housing corporation (NHC), Dr. Osbert Liburd , and Ms. Judith Rawlins , General Manager of NHC.
Minister Phillip used the opportunity to recommit his effort to leading the way in the on-going transformation of the constituency and this nation.
“With each day and each initiative of your government, there is more that needs to be protected and more that will have to be done and I offer my time and effort on a daily basis to positively touch the lives of the people of Challengers, Stone Fort, Old Road, Verchilds, Middle Island, Lamberts, Conyers, Godwin Ghaut and Halfway Tree and in all of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Minister Phillip said.
He stressed the requirement to provide homes to raise the standard of living of the homeowners.
“When such needs have been met they are able to aspire and to make advancements in their lives knowing that this basic need has been met,” said Minister Phillip, who expressed thanks to Housing minister martin, NHC Chairman Liburd and NHC General Manager Rawlins for unveiling this programme that will positively impact the lives of the people.
“Your housing development efforts add worth to the lives of people everywhere and on their collective behalves I acknowledge the excellent work you and your staff do and express profound thanks. I eagerly look forward to the completion of these housing units, and add a note of best wishes to the builders who will assemble the bricks and mortar and board and nails into pristine palaces our people will call home,” said the Constituency Representative who is serving his first term in the National Assembly.
Pointing to growth in other sectors of the national economy, Mr. Phillip said home ownership is one of the areas of government and people partnership that continues to raise the economic and social outlook for the people.
“The performance record of government and people of this country is never complete because the commitment of leaders to meet the aspirations of our people will never grow old,” said Mr. Phillip.
He boasted that with more than 3,800 homes built and distributed across every community in St. Kitts under the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party of Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
“It is a record of success that can lead us to a state of comfort and relaxation. However, our mantra is for the good we can do and we shall work in the interest of all our people more and more until all of us become homeowners,” Mr. Phillip concluded.