M.I.D.H. Responds to Usher’s Harsh Criticisms
Marisa Alamilla
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Marisa Alamilla suggested that Usher was being disingenuous. She told us that only five, not fifty, applications for starter homes have been forwarded to the ministry from Port Loyola. And that all five have been approved.
Marisa Alamilla, Public Relations, Publicity Mgr., M.I.D.H.
“Both contractors that Mr. Usher has chosen have failed Mr. Usher and in the long term, failed the ministry. Marion, we build and we have to understand this: we build for people who have very limited means. At the ministry we have to uphold a standard and a quality and we ensure that quality before hand-over. There are several reasons for that. People who are of limited means can’t go and redo work. We don’t want them to go into a house that doesn’t function properly. All houses have that same requirement. As to the – that we only delivered one, Mr. Usher has more houses approved in his area but Marion, one of the challenges that we have and we have that in several south side constituencies, not only Mr. Usher’s, that there is a problem for filling. The areas are swampy, even in Lake-I we have some that we had to fill. We are waiting for consolidation. We have this problem in Albert, in Mesop, in Queen’s Square. Most of the south side constituencies we have to fill. If we don’t wait for the material to consolidate, the house will sink.”
Marion Ali
“So it’s not a matter of discrimination?”
Marisa Alamilla
“No. We can’t – we have approved all the houses we could that were entered into the application system. It goes through a process, it goes to the Housing Committee, I’ve done every interview I’ve been asked to do, I have presented my cases and they have gotten approvals, but I can’t build. I have filled them, I can show you, we can go.”
Marion Ali
“He’s saying fifty people are ready in his area.”
Marisa Alamilla
“No, that’s not – well I don’t know if he has fifty applicants. I know he hasn’t presented me with fifty applicants.”
Marion Ali
“How many has he presented?”
Marisa Alamilla
“Five, and all five have been approved.”
