Housing project |20 December 2023

A partial view of the two new condominium blocks

Gardens Apartment welcomes new owners

By Sunny Esparon

The Green Island Construction Company (GICC) has officially handed over two newly completed condominium blocks of 10 units in Perseverance to 19 professionals.

The owners received the keys to their new two-bedroom apartments in a ceremony held yesterday afternoon.

The keys were handed over by Vice-President Ahmed Afif, the chief executive of Islands Development Company (IDC), Glenny Savy, and the Minister for Lands and Housing, Billy Rangasamy.

In her congratulatory speech, general manager of GICC, Angelique Antat, shared the history of the project, initiated by former Minister for Housing and Land, Christian Lionnet, which was to offer affordable housing in an ideal location, and agreeable to the graduates.

She said this part of the population did not really have provisions to satisfy their housing needs at the time as the government was focusing mainly on social projects.

Ms Antat said IDC and GICC worked with a lot of energy and heart to be able to construct the buildings and has urged the new tenants to simply contribute in the future of the country through their hard work. “We ask that you become a true example to the community.”

She also announced that in a few months, another group of 20 tenants, will move into the two remaining blocks still under construction. This will see the completion of the ‘Gardens Apartment’ project.

In an interview with the press, Mr Savy said construction of the condominiums allocated yesterday, started around a year ago. “Evidently, the two buildings were completed earlier than we anticipated, so we took the occasion to give them their apartments before Christmas.”

He expects the other 20 families to receive their keys by March next year. The remaining two buildings will be three-bedroom units.

GICC also plans to construct two luxury blocks. “I expect in 24-30 months starting from next year, the entire project will be completed.”

According to Mr Savy, those qualifying for condominiums are first time home buyers, with no prior houses or land to their name. They are mostly young professionals who are still studying or have completed their studies. Some of them have also contributed towards housing schemes, while others have bought the R1.3 million apartment outright, through bank loans. The apartments provide fixed appliances such as water heater, cooker and washing machine.

In his address, Minister Rangasamy noted that a total of 50 condominiums have been allocated to date, inclusive of the ones handed over yesterday.

“On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the partnership with GICC for the construction of the condominiums. It is a huge support under the condominium scheme,” said the minister.

He also thanked the applicants who have partnered with the government through their contributions, which helps facilitate construction of future projects.

Sheena Saldanha-Camille, a resident of Garden Block 9, who moved in three years ago, also shared a few words with the new tenants. She was followed by Fantima Johnson who delivered the thank you note on behalf of other residents.

Photos by Kurtrine Albert