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Pointe Larue gets new housing estate |12 June 2021

Pointe Larue gets new housing estate

 By Patrick Joubert

 

An Ex Albert Housing project, now baptized the Anonyme Views Housing Estate, in the district of Point Larue, was officially inaugurated yesterday afternoon.

President Wavel Ramkalawan and the Minister for Land and Housing, Billy Rangasamy, had the honour to unveil the commemorative plaque to officially inaugurate the new estate comprising 16 three-bedroom units (two blocks of four storeys) and 8 two-bedroom units (one block of four storeys).

Present were Vice-President Ahmed Afif; the principal secretary for housing, Denis Barbe; the principal secretary for infrastructure, Yves Choppy; the principal secretary for local government, Kevin Perine; the elected member of the National Assembly for Pointe Larue, Conrad Gabriel; the district administrator, Versna Gertrude; representatives from the ministry and from the Property Management Company (PMC), as well as the new tenants.  

The total cost of the project amounted to R32,200,993.46 out of which R28,629,100.80 went towards construction of units and site works while R3,571,892.66 to the implementation of a sewage treatment plant and utilities supply and connection.

Addressing all present, Minister Rangasamy said that the demand for affordable housing still remains a big challenge for the ministry especially with regard to financing and appropriate terrain for construction.

“I want to point out that if finance is available, the government will do its utmost to exploit all terrains available at its disposal to satisfy the aspiration of those who are waiting to get their own house,” he said.

Minister Rangasamy said that with 3000 applicants on the housing list and faced with budgetary constraints, government is only capable to complete 200 units for this year. He called on those waiting to be patient as their turn will come in the future.

The minister called on the new residents to keep the estate clean, free from social ills and to live in harmony with one another, including with their neigbours at Ex-Albert.

He urged families to avoid internal conflicts and other issues such as unplanned pregnancies that may result in adding burden on the ministry in terms of assisting them with a house which may take time because of the long list.

The three blocks of apartments which overlook the Seychelles International Airport runway and the Anonyme Island and beyond, from which it got its name, started in April 2018 and was completed early this month.

The Anonyme Views Housing Estate project, awarded to FABSCO Construction, encountered several delays due to difficult site constraints which required a lot of earthworks and retaining walls. The installation of a sewage plant for the site also contributed to the delay of the project.

The 24 families, of whom 21 are from the district, were allocated with their keys prior to the opening of the estate as precaution measures against Covid-19. They were chosen based on the number of points accumulated through the Housing Point System. The Housing Allocation Committee comprises representatives from the housing, family, social affairs and local government departments, Ministry of Education, Property Management Corporation (PMC) and the Agency for Social Protection (ASP).

Following the inauguration of the estate, President Ramkalawan and his delegation and the families had a tour of the units.

The new residents were all very happy with their units and also amazed by their spaciousness and the view they command.

“I was not expecting it to be that size. It’s very spacious with room to maneuver. I am very happy,” said Verona Marie, a tenant from the district who delivered the vote of thanks.

“I am very happy. I’ve been waiting for ten years to have a place of my own. All this time I had been spending money on rents. In this life situation of today, when you get to have such a place of your own, who wouldn’t be happy,” said Janette Hoareau, a Pointe Larue inhabitant and mother of three.

The first phase of the neigbouring housing project (Ex-Albert) comprising 36 housing units was constructed by the China State Construction between 2007 and 2008 at a cost of R16.5 million.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the inauguration ceremony yesterday.

 

Patrick Joubert

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