The 16 beneficiaries of Woodford Hill who recently received keys to their new homes will receive titles soon. This was according to Housing Minister Melissa Poponne-Skerrit, who was delivering remarks at a handover ceremony this week.
“Learn to live well and learn to thrive together. And remember, this house is not just for today. It’s a hurricane-resilient Category 5 resilient home,” she said. “This will stand the test of time. This will stand climate change. Any hurricane that [passes], you might just be soundproof. You’re not hearing no rain drops on your head; you’re not going to live in fear. You’re going to sit there with your tea and watch what’s going on the other side of the hill.”
According to the minister, generations are going to pass through the doors of these houses, “And you will get your title soon, so you’re not just receiving a house. You have an asset that is worth about $450,000 and as time goes by it will appreciate.”
Furthermore, Poponne-Skerrit indicated that this is an asset that can be passed on to their children.
Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister Roland Royer said the government is undertaking the largest infrastructure investment in the country’s history, the construction of an international airport.
“And this is where I want to bring the development of homes to the people of Woodford Hill, Wesley and the surrounding communities,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, Royer mentioned that when the airport, located in the nearby Wesley area, becomes operational, hundreds of people will be needed to keep it functioning.
“There will be opportunities for customer service representatives, security officers, public handlers, ground-handling personnel, cleaners, maintenance workers, firefighters, drivers, administrators, information technology specialists and your traffic personnel,” Royer stated. “There will also be opportunities that are not located inside the airport itself. Taxi operators will transport arriving passengers, farmers will supply fresh produce to hotels, restaurants and catering companies, fishers can supply seafood…”
The Woodford Hill initiative is being advanced under the Government’s broader housing programme, which seeks to provide families with durable homes better equipped to withstand extreme weather.
Promoted under the themes “Building Homes, Strengthening Communities and Transforming Lives,” the programme forms part of Dominica’s wider target of delivering 5,000 resilient homes in support of the country’s long-term recovery and climate-resilience goals.
