Mark questions role of EMBDC

This was the question Opposition Senator Wade Mark, a member of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament tried to get answered when the JSC met with members of the Housing Development Corporation, Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee (SILWC) and Land Settlement Agency on Tuesday in the Parliament Chamber.

Mark said, “This company has no experience, knowledge or background in housing development. I would think the Sugar Welfare has more experience in housing.”

He noted that the EMBDC was developing housing sites on land belonging to Caroni 1975 Ltd.

Mark wanted to know who gave the EMBDC the authority to go into land development since as he was aware the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Housing Ministry were the agencies responsible for housing.

Carlton Mustapha, of SILWC said under SILWC’s land development programme, four housing sites were acquired from the former Caroni 1975 Ltd and through a Cabinet note they were transferred to the EMBDC.

He said SILWC was developing three residential sites for workers who took the voluntary separation of employment package (VSEP). They are located at Cedar Hill at Princes Town, La Fortune at La Romaine and Orange Field in Carapichaima.

Mustapha said the properties handed over to EMBDC were at Picton Hill Settlement, Orange Field Road, Carapichaima, Woodland Housing Settlement and Hermitage Housing Settlement.