January 25, 2025
As the government nears the completion of its housing and water development goals for 2025, work has already begun on strategies for the years ahead.
Minister of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, provided an update on the government’s progress and plans during an interview this week.
The government is well on track to meet its promise of delivering 50,000 house lots by the end of this year, with over 41,000 already allocated and 84 new housing schemes either completed or well underway.
Minister Rodrigues highlighted that this marks the completion of Phase One of the housing strategy, which aimed to address a significant backlog of applications.
She reassured citizens that ongoing efforts will continue to tackle housing challenges beyond 2025.
“I want to comfort people with knowing that everything will be addressed, and I assure them, it will be addressed,” Rodrigues stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fulfilling housing needs.
In the water sector, the government has made significant strides towards its goal of providing 90% access to treated water along the coast by June 2025.
This first phase will see over 676,000 people benefiting from 54 new water treatment plants across several regions.
“It’s a lot of people to cater for, but we are confident it will be achieved, and then it will clear up,” Rodrigues noted, reaffirming that Phase One will meet its target.
Looking ahead, Phase Two of the water strategy is already in development.
This phase will focus on constructing five large new treatment plants, funded by a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank.
The 2025 budget allocates a total of $112.6 billion for housing and $23.1 billion for water development, continuing to prioritize these essential sectors for national growth and improved quality of life.