Clarifying housing write-off discrepancies

Since Monday, several persons have come forward to say that they have received letters from the Housing and Planning Department stating that loans they never made or have already paid were written off. Today News Five spoke with Lawrence Sylvester, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and he categorically stated that these letters do not represent any questionable exercise by the Department because all transactions are subject to audit under Government regulations. Sylvester says that the discrepancies may arise because files have not been properly updated and the write-offs include loans dating back as far as 1984. So while the recipients of the letters have paid off their loans, there may be home improvement funding or arrears still on the books. Sylvestre advises the persons to visit the Housing and Planning Department offices to address any queries.