Long barracks replaced by new homes

In July the dilapidated long house on Sibun Street, popularly known as the “long barracks” in the Lake Independence division was finally demolished. Today four of the eight families who had lived there were handed the keys to individual homes constructed on the site by the Ministry of Housing. Kim Gaynier, Sherie Courtenay, Juanita Uter and Jennifer Staine will have to pay a small fee of twenty-five dollars per month and were encouraged to do their part to maintain the houses.

Rufus X, Housing Consultant

“They are basic low income homes and if you go inside you will find a five gallon pail of paint, along with a paint kit. This is given to each of the people who are going to occupy these homes so that they know to appreciate their homes. They have to participate in making the final preparation of these homes.”

Cordel Hyde, Area Representative, Lake Independence

“I spent the first half of my life right around the corner from where we are standing today so I know first hand the kind of conditions the people were living in here, the fact that any day, any night, any minute, any second the house could have come tumbling down. In fact I used to have nightmares about it. For ten years we heard various politicians promising them that they would get their private homes and that never came to fruition. So in the campaign of 1998 I made a solid pledge to the people who lived here that if I did nothing after getting elected I would ensure that they all got private homes. No more long barracks because we’re not into that.”

Minister of Housing Dickie Bradley told News Five that two families from the long barracks were relocated elsewhere in Lake Independence and two more have homes near the new Administration Building. Myrtle McKenzie, who lost her home to a fire on Mahogany Street, also got the keys to her new home on Mahogany Street this afternoon.