More core homes to be built this year; Opposition calls for defects on existing homes to be addressed

More core homes to be built this year; Opposition calls for defects on existing homes to be addressed

Government’s housing initiative came under the microscope on Friday night as the National Assembly’s Committee of Supply examined the budgetary allocations and estimates for the Ministry of Housing.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson has flagged the Government Housing Programme, telling the Committee of Supply that many of those approved for the houses have been complaining about major defects in the structures.

During the consideration of the budget estimates for the Housing Ministry, Ferguson said many of those who have been approved and have paid for the houses are still to move into their new homes, because of various issues.

She called on the Housing Ministry to address the problem.  

“So, the question is Mr. Speaker, why is it when the contractors are building these houses to substandard work and the beneficiaries lodge their complaints to the Ministry, why is it that the Ministry is not addressing the people’s concerns?” Ferguson questioned.

In response, the Minister said that all the houses built by government have defect liability periods, which provide for any problem to be rectified before handing over to the beneficiary. He explained further, that before a house is handed over to the beneficiary, the beneficiary is  given a tour along with the Bank for inspection purposes.

He however admitted hat there have been some challenges due to cost factor.

“What is also factual is that we have had issues with some contractors that’s factual and one of the major challenges has been because of our deliberate policy to ensure that the houses are not constructed at a profit-making basis because they are kept at a minimum to allow affordability,” the Housing Minister explained.

In addition, the Minister announced that more than 100 core homes will be built by Government this year.

Meanwhile, MP Furguson also raised questions about houses being built by the Ministry and remaining unoccupied. The Housing Minister it may more be an issue of persons not moving into the houses for their own personal reason.

On the issue of land allocation, the Housing Ministry has set an ambitious land allocation target for this year. It hopes to distribute 25,000 house lots by the end of December. It was initially planning to distribute 10,000 house lots.

The allocations, the Minister explained, will target all regions.

In region 1, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma will be targeted. It was explained that target areas will be identified in all regions with East Coast set to receive the bulk of Region Four’s allocation.

“As a result, we are able to move beyond the 10,000 and in engagements with the regions we were able to come up with the target we intended and that is why the Minister of Finance in his speech could have announced that we will be allocating a minimum of 25,000 lots” Croal said.

The workplan and allocations for the Housing Ministry received approval from the Committee of Supply.

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