By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Ministry of Housing Parliamentary Secretary Brensil Rolle yesterday echoed calls for the government to repair several vacant vandalised low cost homes saying the neglect was a “deliberate waste of the taxpayers’ money”.
Mr Rolle claimed in a press statement that homes in various subdivisions in the Fire Trail Area have been vandalised several times resulting in fixtures among other things being stolen from the houses.
He said Housing Minister Kenred Dorsett must be held accountable for the condition of the houses because he has not put any plans in action to safeguard the homes from vandals and theft.
Mr Rolle further questioned the housing assignment process and expressed concerns that political interference might be involved.
However, Mr Dorsett responded to the claims and said there was no politics involved in the assignment process. It is based on financial qualifications, availability of inventory and the issuance of legal documentation according to best practices.
In addition, Mr Dorsett said, as new assignees are ready to occupy, all homes and lots in need of repairs will be repaired.
Mr Rolle said: “This deliberate waste of the taxpayers’ money cannot continue. It is now evident, that some of the homes have been vandalised several times because of the government’s neglect and inability to secure the completed homes. In many cases the bath tubs, toilet fixtures, cupboards, doors and electrical fixtures have all been stolen from these homes placing an additional burden on the government to repair these homes and make them livable once again.
“It is now patently clear that the minister is not focused on providing public housing for middle income Bahamians. Perhaps his focus on the sale of the dump and garbage collection contracts is closer to his heart, than the need to provide housing for Bahamians.
“We are also aware of the government’s continued neglect of subdivisions created by the FNM. We have listened to their excuses, propaganda and misrepresentation of the facts. However, they have been in office for almost three years now and the houses are still being vandalised and remain unoccupied. This is shameful.
“The minister and his ministry must now be held accountable for this serious neglect. They cannot continue to blame the FNM. Infrastructure has been in Pride Estates for more than three years yet some homes are left unoccupied due to negligence, incompetence and lack of priority by the PLP government. We are once again urging the government to focus on the quality of life issues facing Bahamians. The Bahamian people deserve better.”
Last November, the FNM led a media tour to government owned subdivisions along the Fire Trail Road corridor. At that time, several FNMs spoke out against the condition of the houses and urged Mr Dorsett to act. They noted that thousands of dollars were needed to repair the structures and that the government would need to explore options to avoid increasing the cost to homeowners.
However in a statement issued last night, Mr Dorsett said: “My last update was issued in May of this year where I outlined the start of the government’s housing programme with the issuance of 23 contracts for the completion of the build-out of Strachan’s Hill Subdivision. The majority of these homes are near completion and are in the process of being assigned.
“The Department of Housing, as I informed in my last statement, is also working to ensure that the existing homes in Strachan’s Hill and other areas such as Fire Trail Subdivision are reassigned. Homes would have been previously assigned, but not occupied, this is due to circumstances such as the preference of the prospective homeowners and the ability of persons to secure mortgage financing.
“I assure the general public that, as new assignees are ready to occupy, all homes and lots in need of reparations will receive it. The Department of Housing has ensured in the past that this was done with the removal of overgrown shrubbery and bushes. We also recently acquired the services of heavy equipment to remove the shanty town which was in the immediate vicinity of some of our homes up for reassignment.”
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