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Some of the young professional houses at Prospect, EBD (Photo: Ministry of Housing/March 16, 2023

Delon Caesar said, “I will benefit greatly from this. I will be in my own space and my own comfort.”

Caesar and his wife have a baby and he said this new house will greatly assist them.

Another beneficiary, Robin Bacchus said, “I feel elated that this project is finally done and everything is going well.”

Delon Caesar receives the keys to his house from Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal (Photo: Ministry of Housing/March 16, 2023)

He commended the government for the initiative and encouraged other young persons to grasp the opportunity to become a homeowner.

Another homeowner, Jason Arjoon said he intends to move into his new home immediately.

Meanwhile, addressing reporters at the simple handing-over ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croa,l said this is only part of the major housing development slated for the East Bank corridor.

A beneficiary receiving the keys for one of the young professional houses from Steven Jacobs (Photo: Ministry of Housing/March 16, 2023)

He said that some 1,400 houses are being constructed in different phases and this will push the expansion of road networks on the East Bank.

But importantly, the minister said this is a major step in the right direction for these new homeowners.

He also praised the local banks for working with beneficiaries and assisting with the necessary prequalification process.

Inside one of the young professional houses (Photo: Ministry of Housing/March 16, 2023)

“We are trying to focus more on expanding and being able to build more so it’s not just about the allocation of house lots.

“If you look at our score sheets, we have handed over more than 1,600 houses and at least 1,400 houses are under construction and then you have low income, right here on the East Bank, you can have all of those,” Minister Croal said.

He said the ministry is still pushing for more contractors to be part of the building process.

Steven Jacobs, whose company, First Change Builders Inc, constructed the houses, said that this was the first housing project for him and his business partner, Leon Johnson.

One of the young professional houses at Prospect, EBD (Photo: Ministry of Housing/March 16, 2023)

Although Jacobs did not disclose how much money was invested in the project, he said that the company has learned a lot and will continue to expand.

“One of the main things that we stress here is quality and quality control so what we want to do here is ensure we maintain a good quality product for our customers.

“I’ve done 20 of the young professional houses and we are on to do more,” he said.

The young professional, single flat units are sold at approximately $14 million inclusive of the cost of the land which is $1 million. These units each sport three bedrooms, including a self-contained room.

The second option, a two-storey, three-bedroom young professional unit carries a total cost of $19.9 million inclusive of the cost for the land which is also $1 million.

The house engulfed in flames

When the 20-year-old inspected the source, she realised the house was in flames.

“I thought somebody burning something and I didn’t take it for nothing and I lay down back. Then I see black smoke and in my room I see a red thing; when I get up and I watch properly, I see is the fire in we house,” Lalita told the News Room on Thursday.

She alerted her sister Youlita, their mother Endriwantie and father, Harrypaul who were home and they started looking for a way out of the house.

The family tried to escape through the main door at the side of the house but it would not open; they eventually escaped by jumping off the veranda at the front of the house.

Lalita, her father and her mother were injured due to the fall. Lalita has an injury to the head; her mother injured her shoulder and hip and the father suffered bruises on the body.

Harrypaul said he desperately tried to save his house, noting that by the time the Fire Service arrived, the house was already destroyed.  The family said they are lucky that the eldest daughter and her baby were not home that dreadful morning.

Lalita Singh

The cause of the fire is unknown and the family said the kerosene stove which they mostly use was not in the house at the time.

Lalita explained that she had cleaned the stove that day.

“It really tough cause we weren’t expecting this,” Youlita, 17, said as she cried.

She added, “mostly in the daytime we come here and we come to see who come to help and sometimes we clean up and then in the night, we go by my brother to sleep but my brother’s place is so small, we have to take turns to sleep.”

The young women said they are devastated because their parents worked very hard to build the house.

Because the family’s clothes were destroyed, they haven’t been able to return to their individual jobs.

The family is seeking assistance to restart building the house. Persons can contact them on telephone number 618-6617 or visit them at their destroyed home at Cove and John.

US$16 million venture– will be established at Moblissa on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, in 2024.

Beyond this venture, however, Bardov noted that there is significant interest in other investments in the local agricultural sector.

According to him, Israel has distinguished itself as an agricultural powerhouse with a keen focus on technology and innovation.