Housing Minister sounds warning at ‘Oasis’ ceremony

Housing Minister Martin Joseph on Friday gave stern warning to all contractors on housing projects that government would not allow them to come up with shoddy work. “They would not be allowed to frustrate the efforts of this government housing programme,” he said, as he addressed a ceremony to mark the handing over of the keys of “The Oasis” project, at River Estate, Diego Martin. The project was begun by Colonial Homes and had to be taken over by government, after bad workmanship, safety concerns and other negative factors were raised.

Joseph said the project, was oversold by Colonial Homes, “causing great anguish and despair to applicants who had made down payments on their properties.” He said the quality of the workmanship was extremely poor, resulting in the NHA having to do costly remedial works to bring the houses up to an acceptable standard. He added that there were also great concerns over safety factors which were compromised by the developer to the detriment of potential homeowners. The NHA also had to refund over $700,000 to dissatisfied persons who lost confidence in the project, Joseph said. He added that the correction of poor construction practices and poor workmanship was completed at a cost of $4.5 million and a project over run of some 18 months. “This Government will not sit idly back and not satisfy the needs of our citizens and nobody will frustrate the efforts of this government in providing affordable housing to thousands of our needy citizens,” he stated.

Joseph said Government’s target was the delivery of 4,388 units by year’s end, with NHA providing 2,435 of these and UdeCott 1,793. MP for Diego Martin East, Colm Imbert stated that this number of housing units — 4,388 — in one year was a far cry from what obtained under the previous administration. He stressed that Government’s housing programme was national in scope. It was not about politics but about satisfying people’s needs, he stated. He said as PNM explodes the housing market and the spin-off benefits to industry and community become clear, the Opposition would do its best to undermine the housing thrust. “We know that we are getting all sorts of attacks and complaints from people who would prefer our programme not to proceed as quickly, and as smoothly and efficently as it will,” Imbert said. OASIS will comprise 122 units. On Frday 40 units were handed over. Each cost $110,000. Phases two and three are expected to be completed by December, NHA Chairman Andre Monteil said.