President, Govt., Ministry lauded on housing achievements

Sep 04, 2021 Letters

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Dear Editor,

The public overwhelmingly believes that the current government has performed better in addressing the demand for and providing public housing than the predecessor when comparing their first year in office. Respondents in the poll applauded the President, the government, and the Housing Ministry for their performance thus far in Housing as well as in several other areas. This is the view according to the latest opinion survey poll I conducted for NACTA last month. The public also lauds the policy and actions of the President, government, and the Ministers of Housing in efforts to meet the growing housing demand. The poll finds strong support for government housing campaign.
A similar poll conducted in November 2020 revealed that the public felt that the present government showed greater commitment to public housing in the first three months in office than the preceding coalition during the corresponding period with respondents expressing greater faith and confidence in the PPP delivering on promises. The public had high expectation in this government to deliver on housing demand and commitment. Also, polls conducted in January, March, July, and August 2021 showed that people overwhelmingly believe that the present administration (and by extension the Ministers Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues) has performed better than the predecessor on public housing when compared against the preceding government during the same period of time in office.
Since the last administration in July 2020, there has been a backlog in house lot allocation. The public feels that Ministers Croal and Rodrigues performed far more credibly than Annette Ferguson and other coalition Ministers who were in charge of housing. The present Ministers were described as being more active, engaged with the public, and seen more on the ground than their predecessors. They have also delivered more house lots and turnkey homes than their predecessors have. Even amidst the adverse impact of coronavirus, the administration has performed better than its predecessor.
The general feeling among poll respondents is that the present administration has delivered a lot more house lots in a year than what the preceding coalition distributed. Published data reveals that the coalition distributed some 7,300 lots and built 500 homes. The PPP administration thru August 2021, in its first year distributed some 6,000 lots and is building some 600 houses that would be ready by year-end; some turnkey houses were recently distributed. The government is building turnkey houses in several communities including in opposition strongholds.
In polls conducted during the coalition’s tenure in office as well as polls conducted since August of 2020, supporters of the PPP complained that under the coalition government, housing (lots and turnkey) was given almost exclusively to its supporters. The present administration and the Ministry have led an unprecedented campaign for public housing with fair distribution to all regardless of political affiliation and racial background. Under its raffle system, everyone has an equal opportunity to gain access to a government home or house lot.
There is a housing shortage in the nation particularly on the coastland. The strong demand for housing has resulted in housing as well as rental prices going up. Comfortable and safe housing has been in great demand. Affordable housing is important for people’s security and well-being. In addition, people are interested in home ownership. Insufficient income caused by the pandemic has forced people to make sacrifices in other areas of life in order to acquire a home. In the surveys, the public considers housing a serious issue. Many complain that they can’t afford rent or mortgage in light of the pandemic that has led to widespread unemployment and loss of income since last year March. Prior to that, over 15,000 persons lost their jobs during the coalition administration. Thus, affordability of homes or rentals has been a problem in communities all over the country, stirring government into action to prepare land and infrastructure for housing to make it affordable for all.
Overall, the vast majority of the public approves of the performance of the Housing Ministry, its CEO, Mr. Sherwyn Greaves, and the two responsible Ministers. They note that the Ministers, the CEO, and Ministry’s staff are far more active than their predecessors. Most of the public is also of the view that the last government failed to meet expectations, whereas this government is attempting to fulfill its manifesto commitment to provide affordable housing.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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