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| New HDC Chairman Henckle Lall shows of his instrument of appointment that he received from Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal |
People occupying government houses have delinquent arrears of more than $100 million, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal told the media Wednesday.
"I am informed that at this moment, we have almost 4,940 occupants of the (Housing Development Corporation) HDC who are in arrears. I am also informed that at this time, we may have accumulated arrears of $100 million.
"That is $100 million owing to the taxpayer and the country in arrears alone. This is a matter that is extremely important to us," Moonilal said at a ceremony to appoint the board of directors of the HDC.
"As of December 2010, we have 4,608 in licensed-to-occupy arrangements who are in arrears of $90 million. We have 194 in rent-to-own arrangements in arrears of $1.6 million and we have others in traditional rental properties and malls totalling arrears of $12.2 million."
Moonilal has given the new board 90 days to recommend a way to get the accounts settled.
"I am informed that at this moment, we have almost 4,940 occupants of the (Housing Development Corporation) HDC who are in arrears. I am also informed that at this time, we may have accumulated arrears of $100 million.
"That is $100 million owing to the taxpayer and the country in arrears alone. This is a matter that is extremely important to us," Moonilal said at a ceremony to appoint the board of directors of the HDC.
"As of December 2010, we have 4,608 in licensed-to-occupy arrangements who are in arrears of $90 million. We have 194 in rent-to-own arrangements in arrears of $1.6 million and we have others in traditional rental properties and malls totalling arrears of $12.2 million."
Moonilal has given the new board 90 days to recommend a way to get the accounts settled.
"This is money owed to the people. Money that can be used at a time like this for development for bridges, roads and drains. It is something that the board has to look at and to fashion a social yet practical and administrative policy agenda to recoup these monies," Moonilal said.
Moonilal also noted that his ministry is aware that some occupants are unable to pay. "This is a serious challenge that we need to look at from a policy point of view, an administrative point of view, but also from a humane point of view, in that we must also be humane.
"Clearly, there may be some persons who may be in occupation and unable, for whatever reason, to meet their responsibility. We don't want to unnecessarily burden these persons who cannot afford, but we want to work with the HDC occupants to ensure that we reclaim some of these monies," the minister stated.
Moonilal said now that a board is in place the government can get moving on its housing projects. "We expect that by January, we will be turning sod for the construction of 1,200 units in the San Fernando area."
HDC chairman Henckle Lall told reporters one of his priorities is to repair dilapidated HDC houses. "We want to get down to the task immediately of renovating and repairing all those homes that are not habitable," Lall said.
He also promised that the HDC will operate in the highest professional standards. "We want to make it a model company that other companies can use as a benchmark and make it one of the finest companies in the Western Hemisphere."
The full board comprises: Henckle Lall, (chairman), Graig Davis (deputy chairman), Reyna Kowlessar, Gunness Sudama, Douglas Johnson, James Lambert, and Naddia Ali.
Moonilal also noted that his ministry is aware that some occupants are unable to pay. "This is a serious challenge that we need to look at from a policy point of view, an administrative point of view, but also from a humane point of view, in that we must also be humane.
"Clearly, there may be some persons who may be in occupation and unable, for whatever reason, to meet their responsibility. We don't want to unnecessarily burden these persons who cannot afford, but we want to work with the HDC occupants to ensure that we reclaim some of these monies," the minister stated.
Moonilal said now that a board is in place the government can get moving on its housing projects. "We expect that by January, we will be turning sod for the construction of 1,200 units in the San Fernando area."
HDC chairman Henckle Lall told reporters one of his priorities is to repair dilapidated HDC houses. "We want to get down to the task immediately of renovating and repairing all those homes that are not habitable," Lall said.
He also promised that the HDC will operate in the highest professional standards. "We want to make it a model company that other companies can use as a benchmark and make it one of the finest companies in the Western Hemisphere."
The full board comprises: Henckle Lall, (chairman), Graig Davis (deputy chairman), Reyna Kowlessar, Gunness Sudama, Douglas Johnson, James Lambert, and Naddia Ali.
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