THE EDITOR, Sir:
I am disturbed by two recent reports in your newspaper which have sought to question the integrity of the National Housing Trust (NHT). In articles prepared by your reporter Leonardo Blair on December 19, your newspaper accused the trust of being involved in the development of houses in flood-prone areas.
The NHT denies categorically any such allegations and wishes to make it known that it is not involved in any way, in the development of those communities that have been affected by recent floodings.
The NHT has always exercised due diligence in ensuring that its housing developments meet the requisite standards. All designs for NHT housing schemes are developed and implemented in consultation with the government approval agencies and other service providers. These include: the Office of Disaster Preparedness, National Works Agency, National Environmental Protection Agency, Water Resources Authority, Jamaica Bauxite Institute, National Water Commission, the mines and geology unit of the Ministry of Land & Environment and the environmental health unit in the Ministry of Health. Once the designs are completed, they are submitted to the relevant Parish Council office for review and approval. It is only after these processes have been completed that construction can begin.
The situation is no different in cases where the NHT provides financing for projects that are being developed by private entities. The trust insists that these private developers satisfy the requirements of all the relevant approval agencies before entering into any arrangements with them.
Given the stringent approval process and the success of the NHT in ensuring that beneficiaries in its many housing schemes receive safe and comfortable housing units, the allegations in your article have come as a surprise. We consider them to be baseless and misleading. We are particularly disappointed since the two examples of flooded housing schemes cited in the articles had nothing to do with the NHT.
In the meantime, the NHT remains open to queries from the media and we will continue to be transparent in every area of our operations.
I am, etc.,
EARL SAMUELS
Managing Director
