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Housing Trust has failed
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Dear Editor,
I am a contributor to the National Housing Trust and I have received an NHT benefit. Unfortunately, most contributors to the Trust cannot say the same. The vast majority of hardworking Jamaicans who contribute to the NHT can only look forward to a refund of their contributions after seven years. The NHT has failed to fulfil its mandate to provide housing solutions for Jamaicans. That is why the assertion that there are 'surplus' funds in the NHT is false and misleading. There could only be a surplus if all contributors had received a benefit and there was money left over.
One of the reasons the NHT says it has been unable to provide more housing solutions is that it has been unable to acquire suitable lands at a fair price.
The members of the Board of the NHT who have spoken publicly about the Government's drawdown of NHT funds have gone to great lengths to try to convince us that removing $45 billion from their coffers will not affect their operations in any way (amazing!), and that it is the loyal and patriotic thing to do. They feel that there should be no challenge to the legality of the issue. I am disappointed with the Board. My question is, "who are they loyal to?'" It does not seem to be the contributors.
The Government is the largest landowner in Jamaica. It finds itself in a bind and needs the NHT's money. The NHT needs land. The Board has the perfect opportunity to insist on the Government, through its agency the UDC, to sell the NHT prime lands suitable for housing development at a fair price... a fair price of $45 billion, not the $1 that the Government has sold many of its assets for.
The beauty about buying this land with 'surplus money' is that the NHT would not have to factor the cost of the land into the price of the houses (they were going to give away the money anyway).
Institutions that are cash-strapped sell their property. The government is no stranger to this. Foreign countries, corporations and indeed, wealthy Jamaicans have bought many of this country's assets for a song. Why can't hardworking Jamaicans get something for their money?
Simon Casserly
simoncasserly@gmail.com
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