Govt planning to bring derelicts, vacant lots back into stock

Thousands of vacant lots and derelict houses across Barbados could be targeted to ease the shortage of houses under a new Government programme aimed at tackling the island’s chronic shortage of affordable homes.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Chris Gibbs says an Inter-American Development Bank study estimates there are about 15 000 vacant lots and derelict houses, although the research covered only a percentage of Barbados.

“There is an opportunity there for us to unlock value in these derelict houses,” he told a Barbados Labour Party Christ Church South meeting held at the constituency office of parliamentary representative Dr Shantal Munro-Knight on Maxwell Main Road.