Tamatave Estate 2 at Grand Anse Praslin |07 March 2020
Eighteen families move
into their new homes
By Nadia Bédier
President Danny Faure rejoiced with 18 families as they moved in their new homes in Grand Anse Praslin yesterday afternoon after receiving the keys to their new apartments.
The apartments form part of the second phase of the Karl Tamatave Estate, located behind the Grand Anse Praslin primary school.
The official handover ceremony was attended by the Minister for Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport (MHILT) Pamela Charlette, Minister for Family Affairs Mitcy Larue, members of the National Assembly for Praslin Churchill Gill (Baie Ste Anne) and Wavel Woodcock (Grand Anse Praslin), principal secretaries, MHILT staff and other invitees. A commemorative plaque for the project was also revealed by President Faure and Minister Charlette.
The project which started in September 2018 is part of the 24 houses in 24 districts in 24 months project launched by President Faure himself. It consists of 18 three-bedroom apartments which have replaced the three police barracks and two medical units which were located on the same premises. The units’ new design will help improve the general lifestyle of the recipients.
Construction work which was being conducted by Qinjian International Groups Development Co. Ltd ended on February 9, 2020 under the supervision of MHILT’s infrastructure team of five. The three new blocks of six apartments are of an estimated value of R14.6 million and they were distributed according to the new housing point system based on priority.
To date, a total of 252 houses in nine districts have been allocated under this particular project and 126 are awaiting allocation, while 225 are still under construction.
In her address to the recipients and other invitees, Minister Charlette shared that managing housing demands in the country is a challenge but she is convinced that the government has the right approach to tackle same.
“With President Faure’s project of 24 houses in 24 districts in 24 months, we have been able to accomplish the dreams of many families. The social needs of our people have always been on our top priority list and this will continue in the future with the construction of more houses to meet the growing demand,” said Minister Charlette.
Minister Charlette also called on the private sector and other applicants awaiting a house to play a more active role in helping the government to meet the housing demands especially now that there are 3,000 applicants in line.
She urged the public at large to make good use of the newly announced loans and schemes for the construction or improvement of their homes.
On behalf of all recipients, Christina Bistoé thanked the government for the project which has met the need of herself and other families, some of whom had been waiting for almost 20 years. She called on her fellow neighbours to keep their compound and homes clean and maintain a peaceful community.
“Let us live in harmony so that we become an example to other housing estates and ensure to make our monthly payments so that our brothers and sisters who are still in line may also one day have their dreams come true,” said Ms Bistoé.
The accompanying photos were taken by Romano Laurence.
