MILVERTON Reynolds, the managing director of the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), told delinquent Operation PRIDE beneficiaries that they would be evicted if they don’t pay up.

“All persons who intend to settle on lots, without paying one cent or joining the provident society, will be evicted if they do not take the necessary steps to acquire their land. I urge you to go to your provident society or the ministry’s (of water & housing) office in your parish to be advised what to do,” Reynolds said.

He was speaking Thursday at the handing over ceremony for the West Albion Operation PRIDE project in St Thomas at the Yallahs Baptist Church Hall on Thursday, June 13.

“No matter how long you live on government property, you will not be allowed to sit back and watch others paying for the infrastructure, workers and the land, and you pay nothing. I want to make it clear to all that you will be evicted if you fail to play by the rules and participate in the program like other legitimate members,” he said.

Reynolds, who took over recently as head of the NHDC following a damning report on the agency’s PRIDE project that saw the resignation of the minister Karl Blythe and the board, also announced Thursday that effectively immediately, all deposits for Operation PRIDE lots held by the provident societies must be placed in the NHDC’s special account established for that purpose.

“The provident society must direct all individuals to make deposits or mortgage payments to the same account and the copies of the deposit slips should be retained by the provident society.”

In addition, Reynolds said each provident society would be given a monthly target to be deposited in order to achieve a minimum of 20 per cent of the requisite cost for work to be done on each lot.

The West Albion Operation PRIDE project, which is being developed on 31.5 hectares (78 acres), comprises 406 residential lots and 17 commercial lots being developed at a cost of just over $155 million.

Work, which will be undertaken to level one development, include marled and compacted roadways; on site sewerage mains to be connected to a treatment plant to be financed from the beneficiaries resources; water supply and electricity, and critical drainage, among other features.

To date, just over $33 million has been spent on the development, including $12 million in contributions made by beneficiaries.

Shamrock Construction Company Limited is the contractor and Carib Engineering Company Limited, the engineers. Land surveying was undertaken by Donovan Simpson & Associates while the quantity surveyor was Calvin Roach.

West Albion is the 29th Operation PRIDE development in which beneficiaries have received certificates of possession, and brings the total number of lots delivered, to date, to 8,530.

Water and housing minister, Donald Buchanan, who was guest speaker at the handing-over, said that contrary to media reports, there was no fraud involved in the West Albion project. He said that a legitimate quantity surveyor’s certificate was in place for work done, adding that the quantity surveyor who undertook that work was a professional of unquestioned integrity and high character with over 27 years experience.

Buchanan also reiterated Reynolds’ plea with the beneficiaries to honour their mortgage payments, stressing the need to afford other persons the opportunity to access a housing benefit.

“We can only continue the programme if persons like you, who have benefited, continue to replenish the pool of funds. Do not become complacent, because, if you do so, you will run the risk of losing what you have worked so hard to achieve. The NHDC stands ready to work with you, but can only help those that help themselves,” said the minister.