President announces new low-income housing, agri venture for 500 families

A new low-income housing venture, which will come with shade houses and traditional farms, will be initiated along the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway for the benefit of 500 families, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Thursday.

President Ali described this new venture as a “homestead approach” to helping low-income households.

He suggested that there will be coconut and/ or breadfruit trees in the front portion of the land and a 20 feet by 40 feet shade house in the backyard. Dr. Ali said the community’s produce will be directed towards a fixed agro-processing facility to help the residents earn easily.

The housing and agriculture venture should also be solar-powered.

“We are targeting 500 families in the first instance.

“This is a project that the cost parameter is about $6 billion (and) we are looking to get the local private sector and the banking sector involved in this so that we can create wealth in every level of society,” President Ali said at a press conference at his official residence, State House, in Georgetown.

He, however, noted that the project is still being conceptualised. It should move from conceptualization to implementation in a matter of weeks, Dr Ali said.