In a stark condemnation of the Ridgeview Heights project, Trinidad and Tobago’s Housing Minister Phillip Edward Alexander labeled the uncompleted development as “the worst of the worst” during a press conference on-site. His remarks come as 50 incomplete housing units stand jeopardized by severe landslides that have halted construction and raised serious safety concerns.
Project Manager Reisa Dookeeram of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) provided insights into the dire situation. “We have 50 units in all,” she noted, highlighting that the previous contractor left the site in 2023, which resulted in significant project delays. Despite efforts by the HDC to continue work in 2025, substantial landslides around the development have undermined the safety of the structures.
“Right now, we are not able to complete these units,” Dookeeram explained, describing how the land erosion has reached the foundations of the housing units, making them unfit for habitation. She emphasized the visual evidence of damage, including visible tilting of structures and exposed foundations.
As rains continue to batter the region, these landslides pose an immediate threat not only to the unfinished homes but to future housing prospects in the area. An investigation has been launched to determine the root causes behind these geotechnical failures, a task that will involve addressing all units along the affected ridge.
The Minister’s comments and the pressing situation at Ridgeview Heights add pressure to the HDC and the government to reassess their approach to housing projects, especially those prone to environmental risks.
Article and image source: instagram.com
