Dear Editor,

With respect to an article published on June 18, 2012 in the Jamaica Observer, “7 National Housing Trust fraud accused appear in court” the National Housing Trust notes that the sole NHT employee allegedly involved in the matter is not a manager as the article alleges in the opening paragraph. The person named in your story as a manager is actually a junior employee within the NHT’s organisational structure, and has never been a manager at the Trust.

Please see the NHT press release “NHT cooperating with police in suspected fraud case”, which was despatched on June 7 to all news media, and which we send you again as a point of reference:

The National Housing Trust is cooperating with the police in the investigations into a recent case of suspected fraud at the organisation.

Managing Director of the NHT Mrs A Cecile Watson, today confirmed media reports of the incident. She said that the suspected irregularities were unearthed during the Trust’s regular monitoring of its operations, and the police were promptly called in, in line with NHT’s standard operating procedures.

Mrs Watson further gave an assurance that the Trust will continue to lend its full cooperation to the investigations.

The NHT acknowledges its public obligation to comment on the media reports.

However, in the interest of due process, and in order not to infringe on the rights of the suspected individuals, the Trust cannot divulge details of the investigations at this time. Mrs Watson, however, confirmed that the prime minister’s refunds have not been stolen. She added that while the NHT is aware of several arrests, indications so far are that only one of the persons being investigated is connected to the NHT.

The NHT regrets the incident but assures its contributors that it was through its diligence and the quality of its internal controls that the suspected fraud was detected.

HM Rose

AGM Corporate Communication

Kingston 5

hrose@nht.gov.jm