Bahamas Government Opens New Subdivision, Delivering 16 New Homes

Nassau, The Bahamas – Sixteen families realised their lifelong dream of home ownership on Friday, June 5. They are the proud owners of homes in the newly established Sunset Close Subdivision, which is located off Carmichael Road. Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie was on hand for the opening. He said that opening of the subdivision marked the government’s commitment to providing affordable homes to Bahamians.

“Today, we are gathered here in the great constituency of Southern Shores to celebrate with 16 families, the joy of home ownership,” said Mr. Christie. “The attainment of home ownership is a significant milestone in the lives of those who are so fortunate. You see, housing really matters, because shelter is a basic human need. This is a need we all share and it impacts the quality of life we live.”

Mr. Christie congratulated Minister of Housing and the Environment, Kenred Dorsett, for reaching this milestone. He said that despite several challenges along the way, he was proud that the minister was able to deliver “affordable homes to the Bahamian people.”

“It has been just a few weeks over two years that the Minister was appointed and his impatience in wanting to start his housing programme was real and palpable,” he said. “But we have had constraints, as you have heard from him and the real factor was the provision of funding. I am proud that he has now rolled up his sleeves and put the first shovel in the ground, laid the first bricks, completed the first roof and indeed, we will hand out the first set of keys to eager home owners.”

Minister Dorsett said successive Bahamian governments have realised the importance of assisting Bahamians with homeownership. To this end, he said, several developments have been established in the country.

“Through the Department of Housing and the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, the government constructs affordable homes for sale to Bahamian citizens and provides mortgages to those homeowners,” he said “This began with the Pindling administration which provided such housing developments as Elizabeth Estates, Yellow Elder Gardens and Big Pond Subdivision. Administrations since then have developed other communities such as Pride Estates, Millennium Gardens, Dignity Gardens, Jasmine Gardens and now Sunset Gardens. But the list still goes on. I mentioned these developments so that you can get an idea of how many individuals and families, without the government’s housing and mortgage loan scheme. probably would not been able to achieve home ownership.”

Sunset Close Subdivision is a 3.06-acre tract of land, which was conveyed in October 2011. It is located off Vendal Drive off Carmichael Road at the rear of the Carmichael Road Post Office. The land was subdivided into 16 lots approximately 5,000 square feet each and a 16,655 square feet passive park. The subdivision was developed at a cost of approximately $1.4 million. Of the 16 houses, five are three bedrooms, two baths; eight are three bedroom one baths and three are two-bedroom one bath. The cleared tract of land will comprise an eight-lot extension to the subdivision, which will be completed before the end of 2014, when it is expected that the subdivision would be fully completed.

Speaking on behalf of the new homeowners was Ms. Karen Kikivarakis, a single mother who said that she was “elated” to be a new homeowner. She said it has been a “‘long journey” but she was grateful that her dream had finally come true.

Following the official ceremony, Prime Minister Christie unveiled the plaque at the entrance of the new subdivision.

The Urban Renewal Concert Band provided entertainment during the ceremony.