A housing development funded by the People’s Republic of China at Louis Hill in Barbuda is approaching the construction stage, with most surveying work already completed.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant provided the update during Thursday’s post-Cabinet news briefing.

“They are moving forward at a fast pace,” Merchant said. “I know that the surveys are being conducted; the majority have been conducted at the Louis Hill facility, and so it’s a matter of mobilization.”

The development forms part of the government’s plans to expand housing opportunities in Barbuda.

Merchant said the grant from China to finance the construction of the homes has already been secured.

“The grant from the People’s Republic of China for the construction of these homes in Barbuda is already in place,” he said. “It’s just a matter of mobilization and getting started.”

The update followed Cabinet’s ratification of the first freehold land certificates for Barbudans under the government’s EC$1-an-acre land programme.

The government did not announce a construction start date, the number of homes to be built or a completion schedule for the Louis Hill development.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: China-Funded Barbuda Housing Project Moves Toward Construction.