BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - IN about a couple of weeks’ time 84 families will receive new homes as part of the National Housing Cooperation’s (NHC) distribution programme, but Minister of Housing the Hon. Eugene Hamilton said the Board’s task must have been difficult having had to sift through close to 3,000 applications.
Minister Hamilton told SKNVibes today (Apr. 28) that some 2,800 applications were made to the NHC and the institution’s Board, with the use of specific criteria, had to make decisions on who would be the most suitable recipients of these units.
“I know that the NHC has been doing its work. The Board has been doing its work to determine the best persons who qualify and that is a difficult task…very, very difficult task when you consider that there are over 2,800 applications up at NHC. That is a difficult, difficult task.
“Really and truly, I want to empathize with them on this difficult task because I know whatever decision they make they will be the subject of severe criticism from a public which can be unforgiving.”
He said there are those who might feel as if the decisions were unfairly or unjustly made, but noted that he is hoping to announce the next phase of the Government’s housing development at the distribution ceremonies.
“I can understand someone might feel like why this person and not them. But we have to understand that there are criteria that the Board follows where each person gets a score or a rating. There might be other factors such as someone might get a poor rating, but they are on the street and a decision might have to be taken to get that person off the street. And so under the circumstances, people might complain.”
The homes/units form part of the former administration’s Habitat 30 housing scheme. It was recently announced that distribution of the homes would have taken place sometime this week, but the date had to be pushed back, as the Minister explained, since a number of units were vandalized.
“It became obvious to us that at least five or six of the houses were broken into and items were removed. That required us to do something about security and repairs. So as soon as we get those repaired, which would be about a week or so, we will be in a position to have a celebration with those who would receive…”
He indicated that to mark the occasions of distribution, a ceremony would be held in each of the areas in which dwelling spaces would be handed over.
Five of the units are located at Taylors Village, five in the Buckley’s area, 27 at Green Acres in Halfway Tree, 19 at Lodge/Ottleys and 28 at Pine Gardens.
