PALACES FOR HOMES

St. George’s, March 25, 2009 (GIS) – The Government of Grenada, through the Ministry of Housing, is working assiduously to improve what one Housing official describes as “Grenada’s deplorable housing stock.’’

Kallan Simon, the Housing Progamme Coordinator, said part of the Ministry’s mission statement is to ensure that people live in satisfactory homes that will uplift their self-esteem and ensure their safety.

Mr. Simon told the Government Information Service that the Ministry faces many challenges, but it’s determined not to allow them to stand in the way of enhancing the housing situation throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The Programme Coordinator said the Housing Ministry inherited a “very difficult economic situation,’’ but is committed to ensuring that Grenada has one of the best housing stock in the Caribbean.

“It would take some time but one of the things we are doing is to ensure we have a minimum standard for housing,’’ he said. “We are just not going to give people a piece of ‘ply box’ and call that a home. We have to think about the toilets, bathrooms and living rooms. We want to make their homes their palace.’’