The Editor, Sir:

The National Housing Trust has collected over $50 billion in contributions since its inception 30 years ago. The trust was formed to alleviate the housing shortage due to the growing population.

I must say that a number of persons who were fortunate to be qualified for a home based on their financial status will rise and defend NHT for giving them the opportunity to own a home. However, the less fortunate, which is the majority who are stuck in the inner-city homes, are not in that position.

Most of these inner-city dwellers do not have the basic education for them to get an acceptable job that can demand a salary to qualify them for a good home, and their children at times are not able to motivate themselves out of this poverty-stricken place called the inner-city because of lack of education.

My take is that the tax contributions should be pooled and apportioned based on need. Regardless of how we want to see it, the NHT fund and the other contributions collected should never be isolated in a manner where they cannot be adjusted to benefit the people of Jamaica. We need more money to place on education. We need to have more projects for the adults who are still able so they can help themselves. We need more homework centres to help some of these children. The need now is education. The more educated a nation, the better able they will be to make good decisions in planning their lives.

I am, etc.,

MARCIA BROWN

cmttoou@hotmail.com

Greater Portmore

St. Catherine

Via Go-Jamaica