MP Maria Browne has shared what she described as “significant progress” in housing and land ownership during her presentation at the 2025 budget debate, citing completed developments and plans for further projects in the coming year.
Addressing Parliament, the MP for St. John’s Rural East spoke about completed housing projects in Cassada Gardens, Painters, and Donovans, noting that these initiatives have provided affordable options for citizens. She described the Cassada Gardens micro-housing project as a “pilot initiative,” adding that it is intended to serve as a model for similar developments in densely populated areas.
“We recently completed eight single-detached family homes in Cassada Gardens, and the families will be getting their keys just before Christmas,” she told the chamber.
MP Browne also announced plans to begin construction on new developments Louis Hill next year, describing the former as “a bit bigger” than previous projects due to its larger land area.
She outlined the government’s commitment to making land ownership more accessible through the Land Empowerment Program (LEP), which offers plots at $3 per square foot. New plots will be available in Table Hill Gordon, St. Paul’s, and Glanville’s in 2025.
“This program is about empowerment,” she said. “Even if someone cannot afford a bank loan at the moment, they can purchase land through the LEP and pay directly to CHAPA over a ten-year period.”
During her presentation, the minister addressed the skilled labor shortage affecting the construction sector. She called the situation “a serious issue,” noting that public and private projects alike are being impacted by a lack of qualified workers.
“We are having to look at importing skilled labor for a temporary period,” she said, “but at the same time, we are investing in our local workforce.”
She detailed plans for a new heavy-duty equipment training program to be introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, providing local workers with accredited qualifications.
“It’s not just about carpentry or masonry,” she said. “We want to train operators in heavy-duty equipment, giving them skills they can use here or abroad.”
Responding to concerns about construction quality, MP Browne said there is a need for greater oversight of contractors to protect citizens from poor workmanship.
“I’ve had people come to my office complaining about jobs not done properly,” she said. “It’s about time we look at regularizing contractors to ensure they deliver on their promises.”
She also encouraged more women to enter the construction field, describing it as a “male-dominated industry” with untapped opportunities for women to earn income and contribute to national development.
The MP framed housing as a means of wealth creation, encouraging citizens to take advantage of land ownership opportunities. She referenced the Pensioner’s Land Initiative, which offers waterfront plots for investment.
“This is one of the very few waterfront properties left in Crown land,” she said. “I urge our people to seize this opportunity to create generational wealth for themselves and their families.”
“This government is delivering,” she said. “We are empowering our people, creating opportunities, and taking Antigua and Barbuda to the next level.”
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Please …. Yall bullshit talking, I’m 43 and I’m yet to get a piece as an Antiguan born at Holberton too I cannot get a piece of land.🙄 the system to get a piece of land sucks ….. yall sit at your board meetings and choose who you want to sell a piece of land to give me a damned break. Since 2010 it’s always some excuse but we all came and started with nothing and we all will leave this earth with nothing …….
This lady doesn’t even understand what’s happening in her ministry, she’s merely a stamp for the kleptomaniac. Lennox Weston , as a man in the know, has already informed us that ‘ they burning money ‘ at National Housing, while her husband indicated that they built $600k houses for $300k. Don’t be surprised whenever you learn of the names of the beneficiaries. They don’t even have an idea of what has been spent but one day, the people will rise up and something drastic is going to happen.
We need to stop playing politics with everything in this small society.
I literally have UPP friends who are the most fierce critics of the government who have applied and received lands. Not only that; all but one have already started building, some using bank mortgages, other through the credit unions.
With national housing and the over 1000 homes build so far there was no impediment to access based on “who you are” or “who you support”, as it should be.
While none of the current programmes are perfect, access to land and affordable housing today makes the 2004 to 2014 period look like a joke or a bad dream.
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