The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was established in 2005 and functions under the provisions of Act No 24 of 2005. The Corporation is mandated by the Act to “provide affordable shelter and associated community facilities for low and middle income persons.” This is the first mandate of the HDC.
The HDC is founded on the belief that decent, safe and attractive housing is central to the physical and emotional health, productivity and self-esteem of the people it serves.
The catchment group was extended by the former administration to include people earning up to $45,000 per month. This has now been rectified so all applicants who fall into the target group of low to middle income earners under $25,000 per month will now benefit from a better chance of being selected for a HDC home.
In achieving its mandate the HDC has its qualifying criteria which is set to ensure those with a genuine need gain access to homes. In this regard applicants must not own or have interest in another property and live in the HDC unit when successfully acquired. However, people who earn close to $45,000 are likely to already own a home or not desire to live in a HDC community.
The allegation by Dr Roodal Moonilal to unmask a sitting Cabinet Minister who bought a HDC house in cash seems to be a cheap and desperate attempt to appear to the public as Opposition Leader material.
This was deflated by HDC CEO Jearlene John in a letter responding to a request for information by Minister Marlene McDonald based on this allegation in a newspaper article on November 17, 2015. The letter efficiently dated on the same day as the request highlighted that after examination of the files there is no sitting Cabinet Minister who owns a HDC home.
The government revisiting the income ceiling from $45,000 to $25,000 is the first in a series of actions geared at restoration of our institutions and re-engineering strategies toward people-centred development initiatives.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has outlined the need for the private sector to play its role in meeting the demand for housing. Dr Rowley also assured the population that the HDC’s drive will continue to be aggressively building affordable homes for those who need it most.
Ronald Huggins,
PNM Public Relations Officer