Housing Minister Pennelope Beckles Distributes Homes to Beneficiaries of the Ministry’s Housing Programme

The Honourable Minister, accompanied by the Honourable Adrian Leonce, Minister in the Ministry and other officials of the Ministry and the Housing Development Corporation, was delighted to officiate and deliver the Feature Address at the Key Distribution Ceremony, held yesterday at Riverside North Housing Development in Corinth, San Fernando, one of the HDC’s newest housing developments.

Fifty (50) recipients received keys for mortgaged units in various developments located in east, central and south Trinidad. Due to public health and safety considerations, twenty-four (24) recipients received their keys at the event while the other twenty-six (26) beneficiaries collected their keys at the HDC’s Port of Spain offices.

Minister Beckles in her address outlined the Government’s policy and plans for the housing construction sector as well as touched on some of the challenges facing the HDC such as illegal occupancy of its housing units, scamming and other illegal activities occurring in some of its developments and measures employed to curb these nefarious activities.  The Minister encouraged applicants to be patient and adhere to the guidelines of the allocation process.  She went on to note that the HDC continues to engage its clients with its anti-scamming campaigns, featured in both the traditional media and on social media platforms, cautioning persons to do their due diligence, and avoid being scammed by unscrupulous individuals, whose only goal is to prey on other people’s vulnerabilities.

She went on to say that, “anyone with knowledge of these illegal activities should report the incidences to either the HDC or the Police so that together we can stamp out these kinds of illegal activities”.

Minister Beckles was joined by the Honourable Adrian Leonce, Permanent Secretary Ms. Claire Davidson-Williams, HDC Chairman Noel Garcia, newly appointed Managing Director Ms. Jayselle McFarlane and TTMF Chairman Mr. Robert Green in the presentation of keys to the new homeowners.

After the Ceremony, the Minister was taken on a tour of one of the model homes at Riverside North, Corinth, where public housing meets modern living.