The Coalition distributed approximately 7,000 houselots over the five-year period it was in office (2015 – 2020). While this is seen as an accomplishment by the Coalition – now in opposition – it is far from being praiseworthy. At least, this was according to the Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal.
The Member of Parliament, during today’s session of the Budget Debates at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, said that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will be moving to distribute 10,000 houselots during its first year in office.
Croal boasted that what it took the APNU+AFC to do in five years, the Irfaan Ali government will do more in one. The minister also reminded the House of the PPP/C’s promise to roll out a similar number of houselots each year over the five-year period the party expects to spend in office. The minister said that this objective will be achieved through Private/Public Partnerships (PPPs), government’s capital subvention, and capital market financing.
He also told the House that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) was on the verge of going “defunct” under the coalition’s watch. The MP said that land sales, distribution and issuance of titles were all at an all time low, even as the current backlog of active applications surpasses 68,000.
“The Coalition never got a grip on managing, governing and providing leadership required to address this important need (housing) of the nation,” he told the House.
Croal also revealed that by the end of the first four-month period in office, the government will be issuing some 2,000 transports and titles.
The Minister went on to say that the Irfaan Ali-led regime will restore “vibrancy and vitality” to the housing sector, which was is in a “state of comatose”.
