Five hundred of the thousands of people who have been waiting for a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) home for 15 years or more will finally get their homes on July 8, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said yesterday. He made the comment at a key distribution ceremony at the Exchange Housing Community, Couva, where some 100 keys were given out to townhouses, apartments and single-housing units.
“We have decided to do a random selection of 500 applicants who have been waiting on a house for 15 years or over,” Moonilal said. “This is being done exclusively for these applicants, because it is unfair that there are people waiting for so many years and people who just applied are getting through before them.” Moonilal said applicants who want to be part of this draw will have to produce documents proving they have been waiting over 15 years.
“In the time of National Housing Authority (NHA) almost all those documents were lost. We are counting on people now to bring in their proof, their evidence of when their request was acknowledged et cetera and we will go from there.”
Addressing the beaming new homeowners, Moonilal encouraged them to think about business ventures that they could invest in as the new communities take root. “Every time we give out a set of keys we are not only giving you a home, we are building a community. Where there is a new community there will be a need for mechanics, parlours, barber shops, to name a few.”
However, he sent out a warning to them, telling them not to try to open these businesses out of their homes. “While we need these things, you need to work with us. You cannot be opening a garage on your front lawn and having oil running down the street in front of everyone’s home. You need to let us know what you want do and we will set you up in our village plazas.”
He explained that the HDC was building plazas that could be used by residents who wanted to provide a certain skill or service. Moonilal said in January 2016 he would be doubling his delivery rate for houses. “In January 2016, we will be giving out 200 houses per week!” No PP members quizzed by FBI
Speaking to members of the media after the function, Moonilal was asked whether any members of Government had been questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in relation to Jack Warner’s indictment by the US government. He replied, “Not to my knowledge and I definitely have not been approached by anyone. If they do approach anyone in Government, we are all law-abiding citizens and will give whatever co-operation necessary.”