The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 800 persons have registered for Government homes since April 2013, Minister of the Environment and Housing, Kenred Dorsett, revealed yesterday.

During his contribution to the 2013-2014 Budget, Mr Dorsett said that back in April his Ministry had launched a website to invite persons wishing to apply to submit their applications on-line.

“Since April till now we have had in excess of 800 persons who have registered on-line,” the Minister said.

“The data generated from this site will greatly assist us in planning the housing programme. It will ensure that we are not building homes simply for the sake of building homes or for political public relations, but to fulfill a need.

“This, in my view, provides value for money. We will be able to determine the demand that there is not only for houses, but the types and models of homes that we will build in certain areas. This will cut down on some of the wait time on the availability of inventory for applicants, and will also give them several options for obtaining a home.”

Mr Dorsett said the Department of Housing will undertake an aggressive housing programme over the next four years, with the intention of providing over 1,300 homes for Bahamians.

The Government plans to kick-start its housing programme by building more than 120 homes. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Ministry of Environment and Housing, the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC), the Ministry of Finance and the National Insurance Board (NIB) for a $60 million facility to be provided for this.

The initial $10 million tranche will be drawn down over a period of 12 months in quarterly equal installments. The MOU calls for a project manager to be engaged to oversee the entire construction build-out, and the Government will engage private inspectors with adequate professional indemnity insurance to sign off on each of the five stages of the construction process.

Mr Dorsett said he had mandated that contractors receive projects on a “meritorious” basis.

“If you build well you will receive more work. If not, your services will not be used, plain and simple. This in my view will provide value for money,” said Mr Dorsett.