Residents of the new Pelican Court housing development will be required to pay a condominium maintenance fee, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Thursday, suggesting $50 a month as a possible contribution.

Browne did not announce a final amount or when payments would begin, but said residents must help maintain the 150-unit development handed over by China to the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

“We also expect that a condominium maintenance fee will be introduced. Even if it’s a $50 a month,” he said during the handover ceremony.

Browne said a facility manager, whom he identified by the surname Hodge, had already been appointed and instructed to ensure community rules are followed.

The prime minister stressed that preserving the buildings and shared spaces would be essential to the development’s long-term success. He urged residents to dispose of garbage responsibly and warned against littering and destructive behaviour.

“They are not being transferred to you for your exclusive use and destruction, but for you to preserve them, to maintain them,” Browne said.

He said the homes should provide lasting benefits for residents’ children and grandchildren, while serving as an example for similar housing projects elsewhere.

Project chairman Ambassador Clarence Pilgrim also called for clear maintenance arrangements, transparent management and consideration for neighbours as the development enters its next phase.

Pelican Court replaces the former Booby Alley settlement in St. John’s City West. Browne said residents could begin moving into the condominiums by January, once outstanding landscaping and utility work is completed.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Pelican Court residents to pay maintenance fee.