On 9 July 2021, HE Ambassador Wei Hongtian attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of China-Aid Low-Income Housing Project Phase II St David’s site.
Hon. Delma Thomas Minister for Social Development, Housing, Community Empowerment and Hospital Services; Hon. Oliver Joseph MP for St David Constituency & Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business and Caricom Affairs also witnessed the exciting moment.
Ambassador Wei said that, the successive completion of the housing project showed the fruitful results of practical cooperation and friendship between China and Grenada, and demonstrated the true delivery of affordable housing that the Grenadian Government was committed to offering to its people. China is committed to working more closely with Grenada to build a stronger bond and friendship between the 2 countries for the benefit of the 2 peoples.
Both Hon. Joseph and Hon. Thomas expressed heartfelt thanks to the Government and People of The People’s Republic of China for the assistance of providing high-quality housing to the Grenadian people. Hon. Joseph said that the completion of the Low-Income Housing Project not only significantly improved the livelihood of the local residents, but would also promote the socioeconomic development and education circumstance of the community as well. Hon. Thomas said that housing is a critical need for the low-income people, the Ministry would adopt strict criteria for the distribution of these newly built houses and make sure every recipient family meet the qualification.
The Corinth Site in St David has the biggest share of the Housing Project Phase II with 226 housing units.
Chinese Embassy in Grenada
Steups, stop being greedy
Nothing comes without a cost…everyone has a price. As the election looms nigh, the NNP must demonstrate its artwork and strategic moves to capture another 5 years in office. Unfortunately, most of our people don’t look into the future, or think outside the box as their main priority rests on meeting their immediate gratifications.
We all want to run our mouth on the Chinese and blame the government for nothing. Why can’t some grenadian people come together to help house the poor with low cost housing. Besides. This is something china had given in return for the land the government had given 5o the Chinese. I like what the Chinese are doing with the housing projects but if you don’t want Chinese doing something then you must do something instead as grenadian people.
THAT ORANGE COLOR IS TOO BRIGHT IT SHOULD BE LIGHT BLUE OR YELLOW OR EVEN WHITE LIGHT GREEN AND THE BUILDINGS SHOULD BE AT LEAST 12 STORIES
What’s the reason? I am trying to understand your request. Maybe we could repaint them in one of your colours if it makes any sense.
You can send your suggestions to the embassy.
Don’t know why some people thinks this is great for Grenada and grenadians this is only good for China and the Chinese people this will be run by Chinese money going to Chinese and you watch and see Chinese people will be the ones working there living their this is not for the people.
What has changed in grenada when it comes to jobs nothing the only thing this does is give Chinese more space for themselves and exclude the people of the country. China don’t help countries they take from them exploit them this helps out more money it government pockets not help the people .
Keith mitchell already sold Grenada over to the Chinese once they got that money from China few yrs now.
JUST WAIT AND SEE
I think it’s a good idea to have these housing projects to help people who for whatever reason cannot afford to buy their own properties. Obviously it could have better served the community if individual homes were built on small lots of land. Where with time owners are able to put their own mark if not in the buildings, then on the land making lovely gardens to their personal taste. However there are huge pitfalls with these types of designs where prospective residents may not have been included in the consultation and designs of these buildings. This may be the way forward, if so, it is criminal to put people in a long-term environment with an attitude that what is provided is ‘better than nothing’.
It is OK to provide these apartments but with the knowledge and encouragement that it is a stepping stone and not a life long home, some will move on and some won’t for that reasons. So the government should be congratulated that some peoplewill be happy for some of the time.. But there can be practical problems in these types of claustrophobic environment. Many questions to answer.
1. What help is available for those who have lost their jobs and may otherwise be unable to pay their rent, utility bills etc?
2. How are the residents protected from bullying especially single mothers on their own?
3. Are there security management available ? And if so, what are the rules and regulations to ensure that bullying culture is discouraged from those who have the powers to use them?
4. How will the maintenance of these properties be supervised to ensure that they are prevented from becoming ghettorized?
It is one thing to introduce housing projects and lifestyles from other environments and another to provide the necessary support to ensure their upkeep.
5. Those communities are doomed before they even begin if:
Education
Health
Safety,
Security
Socialisation are not automatically built in as part of the fabrics of these penned- in communities.
When the euphoria is over then the reality starts; let’s hope that the net is provided to break the fall.
Ungratefulness is one thing that I hate with great passion, all you people want is perfection perfection perfection, I red one comment saying that everyone of us are quick to blame the Chinese and not the government too, well sorry to burse ‘yall bubble, I ain’t the same as u guys, I’m not in the argument of blaming either side, y’all need to learn that Grenada is a damn small country, it’s not a rich country and so if you expect it to look perfect then why don’t u take your own money and build perfect houses for the Grenadians yourselves? The bible speaks of being content yet I keep seeing so many comments over the internet where people trying to diss the Chinese and our government which is obviously not a rich one and is only trying as far as I can see, yet people keep making excuses and fussing like small babies, “with an attitude that it’s better than nothing”? What’s that even suppose to mean anyway? well of course it’s better than nothing, or would you rather your/our “grenadians” sleep on the street? Or maybe you should take all of them to live with u, and that goes to all u others who don’t know how to be content, … “harassment”? Seriously, harassment can be found everywhere, even in your perfect homes people can come and harass u, don’t be surprised if the Chinese projects become more safe than private owned places, u have a problem with the government and the Chinese trying to help then get off your lazy butts and buld perfect private and secured houses for people, “security”? Do u see fencing and security gaurding all houses u pass by in Grenada? So why should this one be that much an issue about security?, “becoming a gheto in due time”? Tell me where in Grenada you don’t see worse happening, even if Chinese are coming to live and work here I don’t see why some of y’all should react that way like racist people, if it were white people I doubt y’all would be acting up like a bunch of îd!ots, Again, ungratefulness is one thing hate, especially when it’s accompanied by a lack of being content…
Very constructive comments
Very constructive comments and valid observations.
I assume the best approach is to wait and see since we don’t know how government plans to administer this project.
Low income indicates eligible recipients will be families already having difficult time due to limited finances. .
This leads to these followings concerns:
Is this intended to be a rent to own or just rent at a low monthly cost ? If it is a rent to own then I would assume there must be a monthly maintenance fee for repairs and regular maintenance of the exterior property. In scenario how will low income families afford rent, utilities plus monthly maintenance fees? Is government able to afford and committing to finance the cost of exterior upkeep and maintenance from public funds? If it is simply monthly rental with no ownership then there’s no complications since all maintenance cost will be included in monthly rent. In this case although renters will never own the homes at least they will continue to have affordable and decent shelter.
We can only hope that the great minds involved thought this thru and the intent .will be met.
You will be doing a much better deed for a poor man if you provided him with a free bicycle opposed to free $100,000 valued BMW. He will be able to afford the maintenance of the bicycle and still save some money. That free BMW on the other hand will take all his money in operational cost and maintenance only adding to his financial nightmare.
Hi Wei,
Where did you get the free paint…lol…no one would buy that color…and is it belt n road or belt n house without septic…lol..
Now the politicians can monitor, manipulate and control the poor for votes.
Grenada should be promoting and facilitating land and property ownership instead of band aid solution. None of the low income recipients do not own and can not use the property as assets. .
Furthermore, no one can pass on the property ownership to children which can break viscous cycle of poverty.
The banks and other financial institutions always ask for loan guarantees/ assets.
Besides the ability to reproach poor people about a low income project appartment, I don’t know and see this addressing unemployment.
Set up property ownership programs where Grenadians can afford property for as little as to what they can afford. I know most Grenadians will be glad to own a piece of land for what they pay with their own sweat…
Hi Ambassador Wei:
What would your country like from us in return?
Don’t you know? Keith gave them Higg Island, Levera, and huge disgusting development at Mount Hartmann. Where you been?