Days after President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that the government will distribute free cement and steel to some categories of home builders, Housing Minister Collin Croal promised that the building materials will be transparently distributed soon.
Minister Croal said the Housing Minister’s technical team is currently working on the distribution model for the support programme; this will determine how many persons will benefit and the total
That model should be completed within a week’s time and the Housing Ministry will announce the rollout of the programme thereafter, Croal said. The programme will fall under the purview of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
“We have the information (but) we want to ensure that we present that package transparently with as much information,” Croal said.
Similarly, CH&PA Chief Executive Officer Sherwyn Greaves said that the ministry wants to guarantee that the implementation is as transparent as possible, so that there are no concerns about corruption as have already been raised.
President Ali, while speaking at the opening of the International Building Expo 2022 at the National Stadium, Providence, said that for homes that cost $6 million or less, every builder will get the steel needed for construction and one sling of cement.
For every home that costs more than $6 million and up to $25 million, the government will provide two slings of cement.
This assistance forms part of the government’s push towards developing the housing sector. It was also announced that the local commercial banks have agreed to slash the interest rate for housing and building loans up to $9 million to 3.8 per cent.
