To combat this, the government has embarked on an ambitious housing development scheme to provide adequate living quarters for citizens. One of these projects is the Cas-En-Bas housing project, which will comprise 75 condos.

The project is in its initial stages and Minister Frederick disclosed that DCA approval has been given.

“I am pleased to report that at the Development Control Authority's meeting, on Wednesday last week, the National Housing Corporation received full approval for the construction of those five buildings, each of which will contain 15 condos that are earmarked for the citizens of this country,” he said.

Frederick says these condos will be for sale for Saint Lucians at concessionary rates. The value of the land in the island’s north will not be included in the final price.

“As I indicated previously, the government, in the discharge of its social responsibility to the citizens of this country, will not incorporate the price of the land. We will strictly factor in what we spent administratively and for construction and pass on that benefit to the good people of this country,” he explained.

Frederick went on to explain that with the approval of the buildings, future housing developments will only require approval of the lands. This, he adds, allows the government to replicate the buildings in other localities.

“The good thing about this approval is that it does not limit itself to the Cas-en-Bas area alone. Given the fact that the plans have already gone through the rigorous processing of assessment, the engineering, the electricals, and everything else has been assessed, what we are going to do is use them as generic plans for replication in different areas. So once we identify the land in a given locality, it is a matter of DCA giving a site approval for that locality and we can proceed.”

He explained further that once the government has sourced the funds, the construction will commence.