Housing Minister Richard Frederick has pledged an aggressive expansion of Saint Lucia’s housing construction programme, declaring it a top priority as the Thirteenth Parliament gets underway.
Speaking with reporters outside Parliament ahead of the inaugural sitting last week, Frederick signalled that 2026 will mark a significant scale-up in government-led housing development, aimed at increasing access to affordable homes for Saint Lucians across the island.
“For 2026, we have an extremely ambitious plan. We have to continue where we left off,” Frederick said, noting that construction is already underway on a multi-unit residential project intended to serve as a template for future developments.
The project, a 15-apartment building currently being constructed in Tal Van, Babonneau, will be sold to Saint Lucian citizens, according to the minister.
Frederick acknowledged that the programme faced early delays due to approval and administrative hurdles but said those issues have now been resolved. “We had some teething problems in terms of getting the approvals and getting everything, but now that the plan has been approved, it is just a matter of replicating that building throughout the length and breadth of Saint Lucia as finances would permit,” he explained.
With the prototype design approved, the government is now positioned to move faster at new sites. Frederick confirmed that several additional locations have already been identified, requiring only site-specific approvals before construction can begin. This, he said, will significantly reduce delays and allow for a more rapid rollout of housing units in multiple communities.
“So all the initial difficulties we would have had have been overcome and we can now proceed smoothly with the construction of quite a few units for our Saint Lucia citizens,” the minister added.
Frederick also addressed questions about the status of parking meters, acknowledging that progress on that initiative had slowed. He attributed the pause to challenges involving investors and the Castries City Council, as well as a temporary interruption in his ministerial responsibilities. However, he expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved. “Once that is ironed out, I do believe we will roll it out and roll it out very smoothly,” he said.
Reappointed to the housing portfolio, Frederick emphasized that the administration is focused on delivering measurable outcomes, insisting that the groundwork has already been laid for a faster, broader and more coordinated housing drive in the coming term.
