In keeping with the Government’s mandate of ensuring safe and adequate housing for all citizens, Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Phillip Alexander visited Marcano Quarry Lands, also known as “Canada,” in Laventille, to assess conditions and address residents’ concerns.
After touring the deteriorating Marcano Quarry Lands, also known as “Canada,” in Laventille, with residents and officials from the Housing Development Corporation, Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Phillip Alexander says the small number of people still occupying the building will need to be immediately relocated.
“We in the Ministry of Housing have been given a mandate that the Prime Minister, that is to get as many people properly housed as possible. This situation here we have to find out what exactly went on here, why there was a mass relocation, I have the maintenance and the engineering team here with me, they gonna assess the building, make a preliminary assessment, when we get back to the Ministry at the HDC they will be able to tell us the three or four people living here, we obviously gonna have to do some kind of emergency relocation for them.”
The Minister noted that it is still too early to determine whether the building can be salvaged, or if it will have to be demolished, pending the outcome of a comprehensive assessment.
“If it is capable that these Units can be rehabilitated, rebuilt and reissued to people then we will go in that direction. Ultimately that decision will be made at the Ministry of Housing, and Ministers, line Minister David Lee, HDC Chairman, the Management, we will all meet and discuss what could be done here.”
The visit follows a similar assessment carried out three months ago at the HDC development on Nelson and George Streets in Port of Spain.
Minister Alexander reaffirmed Government’s commitment to providing safe and adequate housing for citizens, as efforts continue to accelerate the delivery of housing solutions across the country.