Government has not yet decided whether the Citrus Close Housing Development will be completed as a housing project.
However, Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Philip Alexander, said that the State must act to safeguard millions of dollars already invested in the site.
Responding to questions about the project, Minister Alexander said authorities were still assessing the way forward but stressed concerns about the location and suitability of the development.
“I do not know if this will be continued or completed as a housing project. We do not know that as yet. We know for certain that it is a hot zone and that putting people to live here who are not members of the gangs could end up with people losing their lives simply for existing.”
He also addressed concerns about securing the partially completed project, revealing that approximately $51 million in taxpayers’ money has already been spent on the development.
Minister Alexander said the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has a duty to protect public assets while decisions are made on the project’s future.
“A decision has to be made because the taxpayers are investing $51 million. The contractor has to make a decision at some point. But between then and now, the HDC has to protect taxpayers’ equity and assets here. So at some point, action may be taken. The Army was deployed here and they may be deployed here.”