More funding for Booby Alley Project

The government will be expanding the Booby Alley development project to include residents who are currently living in the Perry Bay area. Prime Minister Gaston Browne made the disclosure during a signing ceremony on Thursday when he accepted a grant of EC $100 million dollars from the People’s Republic of China.
He said the government intends to ensure the homes are accessible and affordable to accommodate the residents from both communities.
The Chinese have offered the grant, as a gift, to go towards the construction of 250 low-income houses at no cost to the government of Antigua and Barbuda.
One hundred and fifty homes will be built in Booby Alley in the Point area, 50 will be constructed in the Bolans community, while the remaining 50 will be given to families on the sister island, Barbuda.
“The project, for the most part, will comprise of rental properties which will be heavily subsidised. Those who had homes in the Booby Alley area will also be able to own a home at a substantially reduced cost, we will also have to give them credit for their existing home, no matter the conditions,” Browne said.
 “We want to make sure that the ordinary man and woman in this country can share in the developmental gains of this country. That is why we have provided duty-free concessions for thousands of Antiguans and Barbudans to own motor vehicles. We want to make sure that every single home has at least one working adult, a vehicle and ensure that the people of this country have good homes to live in,” the PM said.
Housing Minister Maria Bird Browne explained that the 850 to 1,000 square foot, two bedroom homes will also include kitchen and dining area, bathrooms and a gallery. She said the layout of the structures will be released as soon as the drawings become available.
Earlier this year, the nation’s leader told the media that the government expects to spend in excess of $20 million on the Booby Alley redevelopment and he was hoping to secure some of those funds through a grant from the government of Mexico. He also stated that the government will also have to compulsorily acquire three-and-a-half acres of land in the Point area for the development.