Minister satisfied with pace of ongoing housing projects |05 October 2022
Ile Perseverance
The Minister for Land and Housing, Billy Rangasamy, has said that he is very satisfied with the pace of work being carried out on housing projects financed by government in the districts.
He made the statement to the press following visits yesterday afternoon to housing projects at Corgate Estate and Eden Village, in the Mont Fleuri and Roche Caiman districts respectively, including on a site on Ile Perseverance where four blocks of condominium units are being built.
The visit formed part of activities to commemorate Habitat Week.
He was companied by the principal secretary for housing, Denis Barbe; the chief executive of the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency, Jitesh Shah; among other officials from the ministry and the agency.
“Everything that I’ve visited – the social housing projects across Bel Air, St Louis and also Roche Caiman and Corgate Estate – are all progressing well, including the condominium project which is on track for delivery to government. On the whole i am very satisfied,” said Minister Rangasamy who noted that the ministry is providing affordable housing products based on the financial abilities of the different groups of clients which is in line with the World Habitat Day’s theme for this year: ‘Mind the Gap: Leave No One and Place Behind’.
Minister Rangasamy added that he was very impressed also with the fact that the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency is taking the responsibility to supervise and deliver the projects on behalf of his ministry and government.
Minister Rangasamy and his delegation started the visit at Corgat Estate where clearing and fencing work has started since October 1, 2022 for the 3rd phase of the re-development housing project.
The affordable housing project will include two blocks of ground plus three storey buildings of eight two-bedroom units and eight units of 3 bedrooms.
The site will also include a mini court and a small playground.
The construction is being undertaken by ONIVO Construction (Pty) Ltd at a cost of R17.57 million.
The housing project is expected to finish by end of June 2023.
Work to re-develop Corgate Estate, which started some years back, is being undertaken in phases and to which for this project, residents have been re-located to Ile Perseverance and they have the options of staying where they are or re-located to the estate.
Speaking on anti-social behaviour in the estate, Minister Rangasamy said that the ministry is working to give a new façade to the estate, including creating space for children and youth to enjoy themselves. They will also be working with stakeholders to engage the inhabitants to take ownership of their housing estate to prevent it from being taken over by people from outside.
At Eden Village the foundations have already been laid for the construction of one block of ground plus three storey apartments of eight three-bedroom units. The block of apartments is being constructed by China Shenyang Corporation (SEY) LTD at a cost of R7 million. Work started on August 29, 2020 and is expected to finish by April 10, 2023.
Mr Shah said that although there is a scarcity of land at Roche Caiman, the agency is exploring the possibility of other areas in the district where construction of affordable houses can take place.
The visit to housing projects ended on Ile Perseverance at a Public Private Partnership (PPP) condominium project between government and the Green Island Construction Company (GICC). The company is constructing four blocks of 10 two-bedroom units on ground plus four storeys. Work on the condominium units started in the second week of August 2022 and two among the four blocks are expected to be completed by end of 2023 while the other two blocks are expected to be finished by end of February 2024.
PS Barbe said that in the PPP agreement, GICC has been allowed to construct some luxury condo apartments that have been sold on open market at a price of R4 million to subsidise the construction cost of the four blocks of condominium which will allow the 40 applicants, through government, to enjoy a subsidised rate of R1.3 million for a two-bedroom apartment.
He stated that construction of luxury condos to be sold on open market is a cost subsidised model adopted by GICC to ensure that other condominium models stay within the affordable bracket.
He added that GICC will also be constructing three-bedroom apartments at subsidised prices.
He stated that the applicants have to present money upfront, raised from financial institutions or from personal savings, to get an apartment.
The accompanying photographs show Minister Rangasamy and his delegation during the visits yesterday.
Text & photos by Patrick Joubert
