Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
AFTER A lengthy debate, with neither Government nor Opposition members reaching a consensus, amendments to the National Housing Trust (NHT) Act were passed in the House of Representatives with a simple 32 to 19 majority vote.
The amendments were brought to the House last week by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to allow for the transfer of $5 billion from the NHT to the Consolidated Fund to assist in the transformation of the education sector.
But while having the majority vote to push through the bill last week, the Government instead suspended the debate after the Opposition rejected the amendments, pointing out that it was not necessary.
Yesterday's debate was like a rerun of last week's, with the Opposition again refusing to agree to the amendments.
But this time around, the Prime Minister was insistent that the amendments be made to the Housing Trust Act.
PM EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT
In addressing the House yesterday, the Prime Minister expressed disappointment at what he described as a failed attempt to carry out discussions with the Opposition to reach consensus on the matter.
"I remain of the view that it was worth the effort to see if we could arrive at consensus," he said.
He noted that while the team appointed to discuss the proposed amendments had arrived at an agreement in respect of a portion of Clause Two of the bill, the Opposition had reneged on the agreement.
However, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding dismissed the charge that the opposition had reneged on its promise.
He said: "Standing Committee having considered the proposal of the team that met, Standing Committee did not find favour and, therefore, we would not be able to give an assurance of support of that position."
Mr. Golding admitted that the proposed amendment by the Prime Minister was an improvement on what was originally proposed.
But he maintained that the amendment to the act was not necessary and again suggested that the $5 billion be transferred to the Consolidated Fund through a loan.
"With absolute respect for their efforts (the team that met to discuss the amendments), let me say we can not accept the proposed amendment, we will not accept that it is the right thing to do to raid the National Housing Trust, no matter how honourable the purpose for which that raid is to be carried out."
