July 26, 2012, St John’s Antigua – Agriculture Minister Hilson Baptiste says government plans to lengthen the period during which people can build houses at significantly reduced cost due to tax breaks and other considerations.

Prospective homeowners or homeowners with renovation and expansion plans currently have until February 2013 to apply for concessions under the Construct Antigua and Barbuda Initiative.

Baptiste tells Observer Media’s Lynoy Samuel Jr, though, that as government has taken too long to start its land distribution programme, there’s no other choice but to grant more time.

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In his New Year’s Day address, the prime minister repeated government’s plan to distribute 600 parcels of land covering 127 acres in North Sound, Freetown, Bolans, Urlings and Mc Pond.

Baptiste says the first phase of that distribution will be to clear an older government land programme called the Land for Youth Initiative.

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The Construct Antigua and Barbuda Initiative is meant to help stimulate the construction sector with the hope that it will lead to economic revival.

Suppliers of a wide range of goods and services have agreed to give discounts to make it cheaper to build, renovate, or expand homes.

Government says people who have taken up the offer have saved an average of 20 per cent.