Clayton Burgin, Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Lands & Surveys and Physical Planning will visit Basin Hole in Georgetown today Friday February 3rd, 2012,

Hon. Clayton Burgin, Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Lands & Surveys and Physical Planning will visit Basin Hole in Georgetown today Friday February 3rd, 2012, to get a first hand view of the recovery and restoration works at that location, following the destruction of a portion of the housing stock by Hurricane Tomas towards the end of 2010 and the torrential rains in April of last year.

Sixteen families have had to be housed in the Georgetown Community Centre, as well as in the Georgetown School for Children with Special needs and to date, extensive repairs have been done on three houses, with an additional five nearing completion and two having been completely rebuilt. Minor repair work is also in progress on the other houses.

This work programme is financed by a generous donation of EC $500,000 by LIME, as well as through a considerable contribution by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and is being implemented by the Housing and Land Development Corporation.

The Hon. Minister will be accompanied on this visit by Permanent Secretary Luis de Shong, Manager of the Housing and Land Development Corporation Morris Slater, Acting Director of NEMO Michelle Forbes, Civil Engineer Fidel Rose and Housing Development Officer Saskia Scotland.

The National Housing Programme continues to play a pivotal role in the government’s thrust to reduce poverty here and foster social and economic advancement.