Woe to housing frauds

Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the presentation of keys to 114 new homeowners at Phase Three Oropune Gardens, Piarco and the turning of the sod to mark the start of construction on Phase Four, Rowley disclosed that these people will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. He made it clear that HDC houses are for average persons who cannot afford to buy or rent a house or have their own home.

Rowley also revealed that 1600 units were already under construction in Central Trinidad and that the Government had already built 548 dwellings in Wellington Debe, 840 in Corinth Village, San Fernando and 685 more at Cleaver Road, Arima.

He said that Government also recognised the need to make homes available to needy persons in north western part of the country, such as Four Roads and Victoria Gardens, Diego Martin where 562 houses will be constructed.

Rowley dismissed claims that Government was building houses without enough space to put them, saying that those claims were erroneous and this was the only way to solve the housing shortage.

Meanwhile, HDC officials yesterday could not reveal the exact number of fraudulent applications for houses, saying that the corporation is still working alongside the fraud squad on investigations.