The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will stage a Rally for Housing on January 30 to bring to the forefront the difficult situation facing Grenadians whose homes were damaged or destroyed during the passage of hurricane Ivan in September.

Officials of the party blasted government Tuesday at a news conference for what they view as the slow pace in which assistance for house repairs can be accessed. Several persons have told GRENADA TODAY that they had fill out forms requesting some kind of help from government based on statements made by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and the Housing Authority of Grenada (HAG).

The forms were sent to HAG but no one has managed to get any assistance. Dr. Mitchell is known to have said that there is a EC$5000.00 grant available for roof and house repairs while the HAG announced the launch of a $40,000.00 loan scheme for low income persons.

A St. Andrew's resident who applied for a loan under the $40,000.00 programme told this newspaper that she was turned down on the grounds that her salary was not sufficient collateral. Others say that they are still waiting word as to how they can access the $5000.00 grant.

Parliamentary Representative for St. George's North-East Nazim Burke said the intention of the NDC is to bring out thousands of Grenadians to the rally. According to Burke, the reason for selecting the La. Tante Junction in St. David's for the event was due to the fact that this is one of the areas that was severely affected during the passage of the hurricane.

He stated that persons attending the rally will be asked to bring along placards and slogans expressing their dissatisfaction with the current housing situation in the country. He pointed out that signatures are presently being collected which will be used as petitions to be sent to Housing Minister Yolande Bain-Joseph to remind her of the urgency of the situation.

Burke announced that several motions on the way forward for the reconstruction process will also be read out and passed on January 30 during the rally. The M.P for St. George's North-East stressed that housing remains the most fundamental problem facing Grenadians in the aftermath of hurricane Ivan.

Burke, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the NDC recalled that at a meeting between the opposition and government in September last year, they impressed upon the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration the need to have a Ministry and Minister specifically for Housing.

This was not done, he said and so people do not know the options available, as well as where help can be obtained so that they can live in some semblance of decency. Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas who spoke at the news conference reiterated the need for people to be given immediate assistance.

He said that many locals are residing in homes that are unsatisfactory and deplorable with no serious programme to assist them especially during this period when the country has been experiencing frequent rainfall.