Minister of Housing, David Lee says the newly appointed Board for the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has started an investigation into the needs of the Corporation, especially with regard to maintenance of the various HDC sites.
On Day 4 of the Standing Finance Committee, Opposition Member Marvin Gonzales questioned whether assessments had been conducted to address the operational and infrastructural needs of the HDC.
In response, Minister of Housing David Lee confirmed that investigations are currently underway to evaluate and address those needs.
“What I want to say is that we have a new Board in place and that new Board has taken a very proactive approach to HDC and they have started an investigation in several areas of HDC, especially in the maintenance aspect of the different HDC sites. And in short time, that report will be ready. Now, within the rental agreement and rental units, Member, I want to say to you that we have identified certain of those rental units, their roofs need to be repaired, which we consider as a high-priority item, and we’ll be tackling those areas, those roofs of those rental units as a priority for HDC.”
The Housing Minister also revealed that housing allocations have declined and will now undergo a more rigorous tendering process.
“All contracts will now be subject to competitive tendering and will use the savings to supplement the allocation. So while you see, according to your words, a drastic cut, 50% is not drastic. We feel that the corruption in the maintenance contracts and how they were being awarded, Member, we feel very strongly that this amount that we have received will make the maintenance, be able to supplement it or do the maintenance as required.”
Minister Lee acknowledged that while the maintenance process may take some time, he remains confident it will be successfully completed.