Port of Spain – Trinidad and Tobago is committed to constructing 10,000 housing units per annum over the next ten years to address the 100,000-unit shortage.
Housing Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, at the 45th sitting of the Senate, announced this as one of the main initiatives of the newly formed Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which was established by Act No. 24 of 2005.
The HDC is set to provide better quality and more affordable housing for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, and to make amends for the ‘chronic housing shortage’, poor housing conditions and inefficient management structure that existed under the NHA.
According to Minister Rowley, “over the years the NHA has not distinguished itself in being an efficient and effective manager”. Minister Rowley noted that the whole purpose of upgrading the Housing Bill was to create a more modern and a more effective management structure, which requires that the new board of the HDC be held accountable for its operations.
He also proposed the removal of the HDC from the boundaries of the Statutory Authorities Service Commission (SASC), since there are limitations in hiring the appropriate qualified staff under the NHA.
Focusing on the physical maintenance of the housing units, Minister Rowley stated that due to an inefficient funding system, where the revenue from NHA was required to go into the consolidated fund, maintenance on housing units was poor.
He said, under the HDC a new management arrangement would be put in place so that the revenues collected from rent can be directed to the responsibilities of the HDC. This will allow the Corporation to upkeep the units and dispel many of the negative terms associated with housing projects, such as ‘ghettoes’ and ‘crime centers’.
Minister Rowley emphasized the need for homeowners to take responsibility for their mortgages and rentals. He also indicated that homeowners should share in the maintenance of the units.
