1959 1965 1970 1975
Index 100 130 160 198


f. Building and construction
 The inadequacy of private housing constitutes one of the most pressing problems facing
the country. The Housing Census of 1957-58 revealed that of the 161,000 housing units
in Trinidad and Tobago, 69,000 (43 %) were grossly overcrowded, that is, with four or
more persons per bedroom. Included in this number were over 43,000 units (27 % of all
units) in which there was no separate room for use as a bedroom.

 The Housing Census also indicated that 66,700 dwelling units or 42 % of the total were
neither grossly overcrowded nor of poor quality. Of the remainder, 30,900 units or 19 %
of the total were in good condition, but were overcrowded. It may therefore be taken that
approximately 63,000 units were in poor condition; that is, they needed to be pulled down
and replaced. There was a great deal more overcrowding in "poor" than in "good and
fair" units, 60 % of the "poor" units being overcrowded as compared with only 32 % of the
"good and fair" units.

 It has been estimated that a minimum of about 7,000 units are required annually to take
care of population growth within the country, but the annual net addition to the stock of
housing is only of the order of 2,000 units.

 The government, in order to alleviate the position, is directly engaged in developing
housing schemes and also assists in construction projects, as for instance through aided
self help schemes. In addition, various concessions have been offered by the government
to enterprises willing to embark upon the construction of houses.

 In making projections for this sector, the acute housing shortage has been taken into
consideration. Construction work done by the sector (excluding construction carried out
by government labour and by enterprises on their own account) is expected to be as
follows:


 1959 1965 1970 1975
 Million BWI$

 Total 79.2 145.7 194.2 236.9
 Households 19.4 37.5 51.2 75.7
 Government 15.8 50.9 68.1 64.8


It must, however, be borne in mind that receipts from government are not exclusively
used for the construction of housing.

 The increased activity in the other sectors is likewise reflected in this sector: