THE EDITOR, Sir:
I JUST read an item in the Financial Gleaner of September 3, which has finally driven me to pen this letter. The National Housing Trust (NHT) is one of those institutions which I think stands as a tribute to the late Prime Minister Michael Manley. His vision was that this institution would pool the resources of all to help in the provision of housing solutions for the masses.
The NHT today finds itself awash with cash that it has taken from us but instead of increasing its turn out of housing solutions, lowering rates to make housing more affordable, its seemingly now decided to find all type of projects on which to misuse our funds.
Millions was spent on the creation of Emancipation Park, a project that is worthwhile but which is not what Michael Manley envisaged when he formed the NHT. Then we hear of inner-city projects which I am sure amount to a throwing away of those resources. The two most outrageous however is the plan to invest the NHT's funds in tourism development in Trelawny and to build houses for returning residents. We have not heard of any change in the mission of this institution yet we see the resources being used in ways that clearly could not be in conformity to the mission of this institution, to the point where we are now building houses for 'go-gos'.
It is my conclusion therefore that what is now happening amounts to hidden taxation. If my money is being used to build parks, invest in tourism and build houses for returning residents, then I am being taxed. I think we deserve to get answers on this turn of events from somebody.
I am, etc.,
JEROME HENRY
jerome@anbell.net
