A resolution to the housing development drive is being sought by the Private Sector Commission [PSC]. In fact the PSC in a letter to Government said that it is seeking engagement in a structured way towards a resolution on the issue.
Government has since indicated its willingness to so engage the PSC on the way forward in relation to the hundreds of acres of undeveloped prime lands that were sold to private developers.
This was disclosed today by Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, during this week’s hosting of Post-Cabinet press briefing.
“We will respond to the private sector in a very short time so that we can have the engagement done before the first half of this y ear is completed,” Minister Harmon said today.
The Administration, since it came into office, had registered its concerns over swaths of lands lying idle, even as it struggled to make lands available for its housing development programmes.
During the previous administration, several private developers were given large tracts of land, under the agreement that they would develop housing estates.
The current government had put these developers on notice to develop the lands or face repossession. Earlier this year, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) had sought legal advice from the Attorney General (AG) on moving forward to reclaim the lands.
Minister Harmon today, said the government welcomed the engagement from the private sector towards resolving the matter. “I’m very happy about that and I want to commend the private sector for that approach,” Minister Harmon said.
The Minister stressed those private developers “have an important role to play in the housing and the housing development of this country.”
Cabinet is examining a white paper which was presented by the Ministry of Communities on housing, and the way forward to provide housing to all in need.