SOMETIME AGO during a debate on housing in the Upper House, former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Senator Patricia Inniss asserted that the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) government under Owen Arthur built 200 houses.
These houses, she said, were built through the National Housing Corporation (NHC). then BLP Minister of Housing now Opposition Senator Liz Thompson vehemently denied this accusation but refused to state what the record was; therefore the number of 200 stands.
This means that in 14 years in office the BLP built just over 14 houses every year for the residents of this country.
This is the party that has as its banner A better life for The People.
Tell me, how can a people have a better life if they are not afforded the opportunity to own their homes by their government?
In other words, if the BLP had decided to build homes for its fervent supporters, at the end of the day they are Barbadians and I would not have a quarrel with such a policy although it would be wrong.
BLP supporters must get serious and ask Arthur and Mia Mottley why did the BLP change the mandate of the NHC from providing housing solutions for us to erecting office buildings?
Barbadians who were between the ages of 30 and 35 years of age in l994 and who applied unsuccessfully to the NHC for a house during the reign of the BLP would today be ineligible for a mortgage to purchase their homes.
Most of them are either paying exorbitant rents today or still living at home with their parents. Since Independence, the BLP has a history of non-performance in the area of housing.
JOHN WAITHE