APARTMENTS will, in 2017, be constructed for low income earners and state employees, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Patterson, has said.The Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday quoted Minister Adams-Patterson as saying: “We are focusing on low income and state employees. If you are a state employee — a police, soldier, nurse, teacher, etcetera, immediately you are in a category that fits the whole scenario. Income is also taken into consideration for these (houses).”

Diamond, East La Penitence and Cummings Lodge are areas identified for the provision of housing using methods such as rent-to-own and partnerships with housing developers.

In a recent interview with GINA, the minister said Government was discontinuing the 1000 homes turnkey housing project at Perseverance and Providence, given the poor occupancy rate and the number of people still waiting for a house lot.

Single and double-flat apartments, condominiums and duplexes are being considered, since these would allow for more efficient use of available lands, and financing for the condominiums and duplexes has been proposed for the 2017 budget, the minister noted.

Acknowledging concerns raised in some quarters, the minister pointed out that the style of buildings will not reduce the individual’s privacy in any way.

“You are not sharing; you have your own space. It’s a complete apartment with everything. The only space you share is when you go to the stairs or the elevator,” the minister explained.