• Submitted by: admin
• Environment
• Isla de la Juventud
• national
• Science and Technology
• Society
• Business and Economy
• Politics and Government
• 01 / 05 / 2010

---

January will mark a new stage in the life of Delia Carratalá, when she receives the key to her new house built in the same neighbourhood that was swept by hurricane Gustav 17 months ago.
    
“This time the hurricane will not take down my house,” said the over 60-year-old woman with tears in her eyes as she pointed to her new residence.

Delia’s home is one of 42 houses built out of oil-derived materials in the Sierra Caballos district of Nueva Gerona, the capital city of the Cuban overseas municipality of Isle of Youth.

The victims of five districts of Nueva Gerona will get a new 90-square meter home made up of one living-dining room, one kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a porch and backyard, said Gabriel Valdés,  Construction Ministry’s delegate.

On behalf of his co-workers, Jesus Tamayo thanked the future owners for their help in building and the finishing works of the so-called ‘petrocasas’.

Other 28 families will receive the key to their apartment later this month in the Isle of Youth's community of La Demajagua, where a student residence was turned into an apartment building.

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike damaged most of the houses of this Cuban municipality located off the southern coast of Havana.

Up to date, 64 percent of 18,805 homes affected in the Isle of Youth have been refurbished.

Source: ACN