The Ministry of Housing is allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to support the operations of the Housing Development Corporation, advance infrastructure works in Tobago and address repairs at malls under the Port of Spain Shopping Complex Limited.
Housing Minister Dr David Lee outlined the priorities during Day 4 of the Standing Finance Committee, indicating that a portion of the funding will be used to support the HDC’s salary expenses, including a monthly subvention.
“The $731,739,800 that is being allocated to HDC, out of that figure, Chairman, there’s a subvention, a monthly subvention, that HDC gets to support some of their salaries. And the member is aware that: 2.7 million. So 2.7 million by 12 is 32.4 million that comes out of this allocation of 731 to help pay salaries in HDC.”
The Minister said Tobago remains a priority as the Government aims to advance housing development through infrastructure works.
“Infrastructure works will be facilitated to support the housing development at Courland, Tobago. This reflects our commitment to ensuring that Tobago shares in the opportunities created through the programme. Tobago’s development is the nation’s development.”
Meanwhile, assessments will continue to determine the repairs needed at the malls under the purview of the Port of Spain Shopping Complex Limited.
“Even the malls that are operating, there are a lot of repairs that have to be done so there’s an investigation going on what needs to be done. Even the relocation of some of those tenants that exist there now is, you know, a work in progress. And we continue, the work continues.”
The Minister said urgent repairs to HDC communities will be prioritised while the Ministry reviews the operations and funding needs of housing-related agencies to improve service delivery.