Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton on Tuesday described the government’s low-income houses as “kitchen coops” while urging citizens to demand more when it comes to accessing housing.
“On the question of houses [I want to say I was recently] travelling along the East Bank, the road through Providence here, and I saw some kitchen coops being built. I saw some also just as you cross the bridge [into Mocha].
“Now I don’t know if the government recognizes that if you develop houses below a certain size and you put families in them, you are creating some difficulties for the family. You’ll imagine a family of three in a one-bedroom where you need for division between male activities and children activities. Sometimes I think this government lacks brain power,” Norton told reporters.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was elected to office on the promise of delivering 50,000 house lots by the end of its first term in office. Earlier this year, the Minister of Housing and Water said that the government is also aiming to construct and distribute 25,000 homes to citizens during its first term as well.
On Tuesday, Norton said that the low-income houses are more fit for single persons rather than families accusing the government of “creating conditions for children to not be brought up in the right environment.” The Opposition Leader said that the small houses are a sign that the government does not have a vision for the sector adding that it is also a reflection of their failure to plan ahead. However, Norton completely glossed over the fact that the same style of houses was constructed when his party was in power.
When asked whether he believes referring to the houses as “kitchen coops” is disrespectful to the families that own them, Norton said “…there is nothing disparaging about warning families that the government should provide you with a house that is safe for your children. The government should provide you with a house that allows you to have adult activities outside of your children’s ears and presence. “What I’m therefore saying is that while I believe that people need housing, any government that makes sense would recognize building these little kitchen coops is not the best thing. Even if it costs let’s say $4 million an additional one or two million [dollars] will give you a bigger house with more space and deal at the same time with the socio-psychological problems that can come from placing a man, his wife and a child in such an area.”
In fact, Norton said that he believes that his comments “protect” families from falling into the trap of inadequate housing space. He added that the APNU+AFC is not against the concept of low-income homes.
“We need low-income homes. We’re talking here about architecture. We’re talking here about the structure. You can have low-income homes [and] our intention was and continues to be to provide low-income homes but we will not agree with an architecture, we will not agree with a layout that does not facilitate the expansion of the family and facilitates the mixture of children activity with adult activity in a way that brings social problems and that is the issue here,” the Opposition Leader said.
