Dunkley: Southside Lottery Homes Delayed Again
[Written by Michael Dunkley, Shadow Minister of National Security] It is disappointing to say there were no surprises in Friday’s statement by the National Security Minister on the status of the Harbour View Village homes project.
Once again, the Government has missed a deadline for the lottery winning families to move into their homes. It has now been 3 ½ years since they held their winning tickets. The years since that happy time have been marked by delays and frustration in making a reality of their home-owning dream.
Last Friday, the Minister said the latest delay was due to bad weather and the discovery of a large underground storage tank containing oil and sludge that “no one knew was there.”
I take strong issue with this last statement. I find it highly unlikely that “no one knew.” The Bermuda Government in the mid 1990s spent thousands of man hours surveying and drilling the former base lands in order to compile a thoroughly accurate picture of their condition – a picture they used to support their claims with the US Government for environmental remediation.
The press should contact the Bermuda Land Development Company or the Ministry of the Environment for the maps delineating Bermuda’s environmental concerns at the time. Storage tanks were a primary focus of the Government’s environmental investigations, with each one marked on the maps.
I also take strong issue with the Minister’s claim that bad weather last year as a reason the lottery winning families cannot move into their homes this year. Surely weather is factored into planning.
Last Friday’s statement was prompted by the fact that the Government was again going to miss a deadline, this one a promise to house families at Harbour View by Christmas 2010. It had to say something to the families and to the public at large. We’re sorry the Minister didn’t just admit management shortcomings. Instead the blame was heaped on bad weather in 2009 and a storage tank no one knew about.
We support the work to provide homes for first-time homeowners. Indeed, that was what Southside’s original housing plans focused on. But Harbour View is a reminder that a promise must be followed by careful, competent management planning and execution. The Government can’t just wing it, as the record for this project might indicate. It is unfair to put families through such an emotional roller coaster. But this is what has happened at Harbour View, and now families who were told they’d be in their new homes this Christmas have to live once again with dashed hopes and plans.
This was a hair brained scheme from the start. I imagine the people who didn’t win are now glad – cos they didn’t have to put up with delay after delay! Another PLP screwup.
yo, you know, I’m just a little sick of hearing your whineing everyday,why don’t you just for one second take a break? You really sound like a spoiled brat kid,every day b#tching!
I am a future resident of one of these homes- this was NOT “another PLP screwup.” Minister Burch has had numerous meetings with us, and while some are dissapointed, the majority of us future homeowners are keeping our heads high and are still looking forward to owning one of these homes – because if it weren’t for this program, I wouldn’t be ANY closer to owning a home than I was 3½ years ago! I am at NO disadvantage by owning one of themes homes, because I KNOW that I’ll be in one of those homes in the future. There’s no use complaining now- we are TOO close to the end of the project.
STOP COMPLAINING!
And one day I’ll win the Powerball Lottery…RIIIGHT!!!
Delays are to be expected…what I want to know is how much over budget the project is. THAT is what we as a country cannot afford.
Few will benefit from this – everyone else will pay. That and the incredibly inefficient way this project has been conducted are why I referred to it as hair brained.
However, I am glad that somebody other than our self serving government will benefit from this. I sincerely hope the winners enjoy their new homes – when they are finally finished.
While a handful of homeowners together with a Burt Construction company will benefit [see their website] … the vast majority of us (i.e. taxpayers) absolutely will not.
Dunkley go make us some more Egg Nogg will you!!….shops are always out…stop moaning, your picket fence is still standing up right, right?
Aye Brasco ..The man makes money in his sleep , but yet he’s always dreaming up ways to crack the PLP’s knuckles..Frigg off and milk some cows !! and anyways …the Col was on HOTT this morning straightening all this out..STOP CALLING MY BOY.. THE COL.. A LIAR DUNKLEY !!!!
Be Blessed Home Owners, the end is in view…