Browne Seeks Chinese Funding for 300 More Homes at Perry Bay

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has asked China to fund another 300 condominium homes at Perry Bay, proposing a major expansion of the housing partnership behind the newly completed Pelican Court development.

Speaking at Thursday’s handover of the 150-home project, Browne said he had already written to the Government of the People’s Republic of China requesting assistance for a similar undertaking in the Rural West community.

The proposal would extend the condominium model to another area where, he said, vulnerable residents need help securing better housing.

“This project is not only aspirational … but is now inspirational and should inspire similar developments in other low-income communities,” Browne said.

He confirmed, however, that the Perry Bay request had not received formal approval.

Browne linked the proposal to the growing difficulty many people face in financing a home, saying rising construction costs and an inability to qualify for mortgages make government intervention necessary.

He said the administration’s housing programme must reach people who want better living conditions but cannot achieve them through their own resources.

The Prime Minister also pointed to an existing commitment for a further 100 condominium homes across Bolans and Barbuda, saying construction was expected to begin within 60 to 90 days.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Wei, asked about the Perry Bay proposal after the ceremony, said she would convey it to the relevant authorities in China.

She also confirmed that Chinese teams were making preparations for the next 100 homes under the housing cooperation programme.

Browne described Pelican Court as a prototype for further developments, arguing that the improvements being pursued in his constituency should be replicated elsewhere in Antigua and Barbuda.