Venezuela to Provide Grenada with Low-Income Houses

Prensa Latina, 30 November 2004

St. Georges, Grenada, Nov 30 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela will help Grenada in its effort to recover from the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Ivan with the construction within six months of 130 low-income earthquake and hurricane resistant prefabricated houses.

General Oswaldo Gutierrez, Commander of the Venezuelan International Civic and Military Brigade for Humanitarian Relief, told CMC news agency at a press conference that the donation will be used to build the Simon Bolivar housing Complex in La Calome, St. David”s.

Venezuelan Ambassador Edna Figuera Cadena said President Hugo Chavez had promised the houses to help alleviate the housing problems caused by the hurricane, “hoping to bring relief and peace of mind to the victims”.

The modules will be made at a plant in Venezuela, and then shipped to Grenada but a “model house” will be erected later this week to give the locals an idea of the future constructions, though the Emergency Housing Committee is to determine eligibility of the future residents.

The source added that Grenadian Social Development Minister Yolande Bain Joseph described the donation as a “significant humanitarian contribution” to the re-development of the island.