THE National Housing Trust (NHT) has forked over approximately $44 million in compensation to 11 residents of Ruthven Towers in St Andrew, whose vehicles were damaged when the apartment complex was flooded in November last year.

This was disclosed by Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke who said compensation is being provided for the replacement of vehicles for a total of 14 residents affected, charging that NHT commits to following through with the three remaining claimants.

Dr Clarke was responding to questions posed by Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson during Wednesday’s meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament.

Answering specific questions, Robinson raised on the matter, NHT Managing Director Martin Miller explained that the entity covered the first $30 million of the claim and its insurance company took care of the remainder.

Miller said that in another three weeks construction will begin on a new wall to replace the gate at the entrance to the property and a new entrance will be created.

“We have redesigned the entrance. There is another phase to come. On the completion of that phase, there will be another entrance. So the solution as it is now, should there be a recurrence in another two months or so, in terms of the same level of flooding, then there should be no water entering from that section because we will be replacing that gate with a wall,” he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition spokesperson on industry, investment and global logistics Anthony Hylton queried whether liability has been assigned regarding the flooding, also questioning if it was a design issue.

“We [NHT] are still going through the process…we are the developers. We have employed several consultants and what we have been doing is going through the process involving our legal team and the professionals to establish liability. But in the interest of time, we proceed just like how an insurance company operates, to settle and then to move where possible, to recover,” Miller responded.

— Alecia Smith