Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a statement by Minister of the
Environment and Housing, the Hon. Kendred Dorsett in response to a
statement released by Mr. Brensil Rolle.
It is obvious from the statement released by the FNM's
Deputy Chairman, Mr. Brensil Rolle, that he and his party are in dire need of
political points and are seeking to get them by continually releasing
statements concerning the housing portfolio of my ministry. As minister
responsible for Environment and Housing, I have endeavoured to keep the public
abreast of the activities of my ministry as regards our efforts to provide
affordable housing options for the Bahamian people.
As I informed in previous statements on this issue, The
Department of Housing is working to ensure that the existing homes, in
Strachan's Hill and all other areas such as Fire Trail Subdivision, are
assigned or reassigned. In some instances, 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 have also stated before that it is our intention that homeowners
receive all the necessary legal documents and that a mortgage is securely in
place before homes are occupied. The is inline with best practices. There is no
politics involved in the assignment process, it is based on financial
qualification, availability of inventory, and the issuance of legal
documentation.”
The FNM's Deputy Chairman should admit to the Bahamian
people the state in which his administration left the Housing ministry. The former administration constructed homes
with absolutely NO infrastructure and no budget for it. These are homes that I
met unoccupied when I assumed office. We completed the infrastructure, at a
cost of approximately $2 million, Bahamian families are now occupying those
homes. He should tell the people that his administration built homes in the
midst of a Shanty Town and expected Bahamians to spend their hard earned monies
to repay mortgages for such homes. This administration has removed those shanty
structures. He should admit that his administration built and conveyed houses
that did not have subdivision approval which is in contravention of a law that
they drafted and passed. This administration ensured that subdivision approval
was sought and received. He should admit
that homes built under his administration have major structural issues due to
shoddy workmanship that we are now having to deal with. Mr. Rolle should admit
that given the circumstances in which he and his administration left the
Housing ministry this administration has made incredible strides in two and a
half short years and continue to do so daily. The number of homes that are
unoccupied presently is no where near to the number being bandied about by Mr.
Rolle.
These are truths that you will not get from Mr. Rolle or
his party because they are in search of cheap political points and not the
advancement of this nation. This government and my ministry remains committed
to providing the Bahamian people with affordable housing options and are
working everyday toward that end, which includes resolving issues that were
left behind by his administration.