A former government minister is among the elite yet to receive the keys to his home at the controversial multi-million dollar La Fortresse gated community complex. Four years after the sod for the 93-unit unit luxury housing project located opposite the Long Circular Mall, Dibe was turned, the project is yet to be completed. Initial completion date for the $193.4 million project comprising 46 townhouses, 38 duplexes and ten tri-level duplex units was to be 18 months. The two and three-bedroom town houses are each priced at $1.8 million. The duplexes are said to be within the range of $2.2 million, while the tri-level duplexs are priced at $2.7 million.
A Sunday Guardian investigation revealed that 30 to 50 per cent deposits have been made on 89 of the luxurious houses, with only the remaining four two-bedroom townhouses awaiting owners. However, to date, doctors, lawyers, teachers and several other businessmen have been forced to fork out huge rental sums while waiting on the luxurious units to be completed. The project is a joint venture between the DTL Property Developers Company Ltd and the Public Services Association (PSA). It was under the tenure of former PSA president, Jennifer Baptiste Primus that the union agreed to enter the housing business with its 3.2 hectares of land.
Sunday Guardian understands the association explored other options for utilising the land, however, they settled for the DTL partnership which was expected to be most feasible. At the construction site last week, several plastered unfinished units were seen. Steel roofs covered some units while gaping holes in the concrete walls of some townhouses were yet to be installed with windows. A backhoe and construction materials were seen lying around the compound. A worker who wished not to be identified said, "We are working as quickly as possible."
Cost overruns
But while the project was expected to double the PSA's investments, Sunday Guardian understands the delay and rise in the cost of materials has led to cost overruns. Additionally, it was learnt that while several contractors have been fired from the project, others have walked off the job claiming financial strains. General manager of DTL Lucien Delpeche has admitted that the project has been delayed as a result of "unforeseen circumstances," which they expect to be rectified shortly. But even while the company is pushing to have the project completed by year's end, several prospective homeowners are now weighing their legal options.
Venting his frustration openly, former Works and Transport Minister, Carlos John who made a down payment on a town house, said, "I made payments for one of the units which I intended to give to my daughter. They have not delivered at all; it is more than four years I have been waiting. Both PSA and DTL fell through on their word. The project is long overdue. I am not taking it nicely at all." Another disgruntled businessman, Rodney Benjamin said he believed he, like many other prospective home owners, was getting the run around.
"Every time you go to the company they have nothing substantial to say at all. I made both a ten and 20 per cent down payment and to date it is only promises. The place was expected to finish years now and nothing is happening. We are really fed up because this entire situation is very frustrating." Also affected is a doctor who requested anonymity, claiming that he is now forced to fork out $US1,500 a month because of the delay. "My wife and I, who recently got married, found the location was good so we opted to make a down payment. We made a down payment on a two-storey townhouse; we paid ten per cent when the first floor was completed and 20 per cent when construction of the second floor started.
"We signed all our documents and were eagerly awaiting the keys for our home. We have seen months turn into years and now it has become really, really frustrating. Almost four years have passed and basically all we are seeing on the compound is the shell of our dream home," the doctor said.