Member of Parliament for St Michael North West Neil Rowe has raised questions about the funding of one of the National Housing Corporation’s home repair programmes and has asked that a special audit be carried out by the Auditor General if the answers to questions he posed were not forthcoming.
While Rowe gave “wholehearted” support to a resolution for the acquisition of land at Ebenezer, St Philip, for housing, he told the House of Assembly yesterday: “I also believe it is our responsibility as legislators to identify areas that deserve careful attention, so that the implementation benefits the people we represent.”
He made representation on behalf of his constituents saying: “Some of my constituents are emotionally distressed over the fact that some families whose houses were damaged by the freak storm on the 17th June, 2021 and Hurricane Elsa on the second of July, 2021, are still occupying houses that were damaged by natural disasters, five years later.”
The MP, who is also Deputy Speaker of the House shared details of a letter from the NHC to one of his affected constituents, in which the Corporation had agreed to rebuild the damaged house “for the sum of BDS$95 105”.
However, Rowe complained “the family in question still have not received the promised house four years later.”
“It is reasonable to seek an explanation and accountability,” he said, going on to pose 14 questions to the general manager of the NHC, including: “What has become of the $95 105, aka the taxpayers’ money that was approved by the NHC for the rebuilding of this dwelling house under the Freak Storm/Hurricane Elsa Relief Programme?”
“Was the money ever allocated, committed, spent or returned to the Government counts?…Can the general manager of the NHC provide detailed explanation for the delay and identify any administrative, legal, financial or constructural issues that prevented the construction?” Rowe asked.
The MP had several other questions related to Freak Storm/Hurricane Elsa Relief programme.
“These are questions that are focussed on transparency Sir, accountability Sir, and public expenditure Sir, rather than making accusations.
“If the concern is that the taxpayers’ funds were mismanaged, Sir, it is appropriate to ask for documentary evidence . . . before drawing conclusions.
“The answers should clarify whether the funds were disbursed, reallocated, remain unspent or whether there were other reasons were not completed, Sir.”
Rowe added: “If the supporting evidence cannot be forthcoming Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to request on the behalf of the taxpayers of St Michael North West, Sir, that the Auditor General be summoned to carry out a detailed audit of the NHC and the Freak Storm/Hurricane Elsa programme, similar to the audit that was done on HOPE Inc.”
Rowe said he was “happy” that middle income and low income Barbadians would benefit from acquisition of the Ebenezer land, since “the reality is that too many Barbadians continue to struggle with trying to pay rents that they cannot afford,” while young professionals were finding it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market.
In piloting the resolution, Minister of Housing Christopher Gibbs pointed to the higher density approach to housing development in Government’s future housing development plans.
However, Rowe cautioned this “should never result in prices that place these homes beyond the reach of ordinary working class Barbadians.”
(GC)
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