Housing Trust stands by affordable scheme

Officials from NHCDT, the Ministry, and the Auditor
General’s Office, join contractors during a site visit

Andrew Gibb, Consulting Project Manager for the scheme	Roger Bodden, Manager of the National Housing & Community Development Trust

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

The manager of the National Housing and Community Development Trust (NHCDT), Roger Bodden, has refuted recent criticism of the Affordable Housing Initiative.

In an interview at the Trust’s George Town office, he emphatically rounded on critics of the scheme.

He said: “The Ministry of Community Development is concerned that negative publicity from the opposition will discourage possible homeowners from coming forward to get something that will give them a start in life.”

He asserted that those who did not submit applications for the new homes will ultimately regret that decision.

Bodden added: “This Trust has a social conscience, and it is important for us to send out a positive message that these homes will provide a decent standard of living for those with less than adequate means.”

The Manager spoke directly about criticisms and questions leveled by People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) MLAs, Edna Moyle from North Side and Alden McLaughlin, the Second Elected Member from George Town.

They both questioned the price of the larger units, claiming they had jumped from $59,500 to $69,900, with the smaller units increasing in price from $48,500 to $56,900.

“The government still believes that that even with the additional costs, these homes still represent affordable housing, as they meet the definition as put forth by the Caribbean Development Bank,” he said.

When asked about Housing Minister, Dr The Hon Frank McField’s suggestion that the government could lower prices by paying a subsidy of $5,707 per home, Bodden revealed talks concerning the subsidies are ongoing but the outcome remains uncertain.

Recently, Bodden and Dr McField, along with other officials and a contractor from Vetromeccaniche Invest Dr Paulo Sanminiatelli, visited all three sites in West Bay, Windsor Park, and Eastern Avenue.

Bodden added that he had only to look at the homes in the neighborhoods surrounding the new affordable homes to reconfirm the value of the Trust’s homes.

The Consulting Project Manager with the Ministry of Community Services, Andrew Gibb, guaranteed that all of the Trust’s homes would of high standard.

He said:“These homes were designed to comply with Dade County, Florida Hurricane Codes, which were adopted into the Cayman Islands Building Codes.

“I am satisfied these homes can withstand such storms.”

Referring to MLA Mrs Moyle’s complaint that better quality pre-cast cement homes could have been built for $90,000, he added: “I don’t believe on a dollar for dollar basis that we’re getting less protection.

“The homes we built are mechanically assembled like the pre-cast cement ones. All systems have their pros and cons.

“The homes that will soon be handed over certainly have more pros than cons.”

On 30 June, NHCDT is scheduled to receive 69 homes at the West Bay site. Another 30 homes at Windsor Park will be received on 15 July, while the 33 units on Eastern Avenue will be received on 31 July.

Work on 68 homes at a fourth site at The Fairbanks site is set to begin on 1 August.

The NHCDT has received 350 completed applications, with three-quarters of the applicants Caymanian.

“The Board took the decision that Caymanians come first, and if there are not enough Caymanians applying for the homes, we then need to look at other applicants,” Mr Bodden said.

A single applicant should be making less than $24,000 a year, while couples must be making $35,000 to qualify. Applicants should have worked at least six months in their current jobs, and cannot own land or a house.

Those interested in applying to buy one of the homes, are encouraged to go to the NHCDT offices in Elizabethan Square to pick up an application form.

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