77
Establishment of a Headquarters for the National Youth Council of Trinidad
and Tobago
Housing and Shelter
220.
The implementation of the IDB-assisted Neighbourhood Upgrading Programme
(NUP) continued in fiscal 2013 at a cost of $45 million. The squatter regularization
component which is being implemented by the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) aims to
improve the infrastructure and living conditions of 5,360 beneficiaries on twenty-five
(25) squatter sites, and to deliver statutory leases to those beneficiaries.
221.
In fiscal 2013, the LSA completed land use engineering designs on eight (8)
squatter sites at La Savanne, La Phillipine, Arena Road, Pondarosa, Ramlal Street and
Sunress, Kangalee Street and St. Mary‟s Village. These sites have yielded a total of one
thousand, six hundred and nine (1,609) lots, and infrastructure works on these sites are to
commence in fiscal 2014. In addition, infrastructure works have been completed on
twenty (20) squatter sites to produce one thousand, five hundred (1,500) upgraded lots.
One thousand, five hundred (1,500) Certificates of Comfort (COC) were distributed to
squatters who had applied for title regularisation and two thousand (2,000) applications
are being processed. A total of nine thousand, three hundred and seventy-two (9,372)
persons have applied for COC. The sum of $20 million was expended on this project.
222.
The home improvement and new housing subsidy component of the NUP aims to
facilitate home improvement to an estimated two thousand (2,000) eligible low and
middle income families through a twenty thousand ($20,000) matching subsidy, and new
home construction or purchase for an estimated one thousand, five hundred and thirty
(1,530) eligible low and middle income families through a fifty thousand ($50,000)
matching subsidy. In fiscal 2013, two hundred and fifty (250) home improvement
subsidies were disbursed at a cost of $18 million.
223.
The institutional strengthening and design/programme administration componenst
of the NUP involve the provision of support for a Programme Management Information
System (PMIS), the development of a system to monitor and prevent squatting, the
control of existing squatter settlements and undertaking of sector studies, purchase of
equipment and training of staff. Of the revised allocation of $8.1 million in 2013, $7
million was utilised.
224.
The implementation of the Residential Lots Programme (Land for the Landless)
aims to produce serviced residential lots at subsidised rates to low income, landless
persons so that they can incrementally construct their homes. Households with gross
monthly income below three thousand ($3,000) will be considered for starter homes with
a concrete foundation and sanitary facilities. Serviced lots are to be developed on selected
squatter sites, through infill development and expansion, greenfield sites on State lands,
and adjacent to established villages and towns also on private and State lands.
