Govt’s housing record under fire; opposition demands HOPE shutdown

Opposition Senator Ryan Walters has launched a scathing attack on the government’s housing policies, accusing it of failing to meet the urgent demand for affordable homes in Barbados.

In a fiery speech at a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) St Michael Central branch meeting on Sunday at Combermere School, Senator Walters called for the immediate closure of the controversial HOPE Inc. programme, which he described as a financial black hole. He presented damning statistics to highlight what he described as the administration’s “unacceptable” performance in housing.

“The minister of housing is on record as stating that they have built 1 323 homes since coming to office in 2018. However, 553 of those were simply replacements following Hurricane Elsa, leaving only around 400 new homes constructed in six years. That is an average of  just 128 homes per year. This record is unacceptable,” the DLP shadow on housing declared.

According to a Special Audit Report on the National Housing Corporation (NHC) in 2008, there were over 29 000 applicants for land and housing solutions. Senator Walters dismissed the government’s claims of a recent spike in housing demand, emphasising that the need for affordable housing has remained high for decades.

“In March 2008, the demand was already at 29 000 applicants. This is nothing new. The idea that there was a sudden increase in demand from 2018 is misleading,” he argued.

Further highlighting inefficiencies in the government’s housing projects, he pointed to historical failures in delivery.

“Between 2003 and 2008, 522 houses were planned for construction, yet only 130 were completed. This government continues the same trend of poor delivery, with very few new homes built over the last six years.”

Additionally, he referred to past projects where construction began without securing the necessary Town and Country Planning Division approvals, leading to costly delays and abandoned developments.

Senator Walters said: “Does it not sound familiar? Just look at Pool Land, St John, where foundations for 50 homes were started, and then the government had to pull the handbrake. This administration’s incompetence is nothing new.”

In contrast, he touted the DLP’s “excellent housing record” to the party faithful.

The DLP candidate for St Michael North West said: “This is not a full record of everything that the Democratic Labour Party has done in housing. But we’ve seen housing projects in Marchfield in St Philip, Ward Hall in St Philip, Green’s in St George, French Village in St Peter, Four Hill in St Peter, Woodbourne, River Crescent, The Grotto, Valerie, Four Roads, Country Park Towers, Stuart’s Lodge, Sayes Court.”

Senator Walters also criticised the government for prioritising private developers over the NHC, despite a backlog of applications for affordable housing.

“With so many people in need, why is the government handing land to private developers instead of ensuring the NHC fulfils its mandate?” he questioned.
Turning his attention to HOPE Inc. (Home Ownership Providing Energy), Walters described the initiative as a colossal failure, riddled with financial anomalies and lacking accountability. He called for its immediate closure.

It was during the Budget debate last year that Prime Minister Mia Mottley promised an investigation into the HOPE project after Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne raised concerns about it.

Senator Walters pointed out that, with Estimates debates this week, a year had passed and there has been no word on the investigation or its findings. He then further pointed out the inefficiencies of HOPE Inc., questioning its purpose.

He said: “The concept of HOPE was flawed from the start.

We have no idea how $60 million has been spent. There is nothing HOPE Inc. can do that the NHC cannot. HOPE is not Home Ownership Providing Energy; it is Home Ownership Poorly Executed. It must be shut down.”

Senator Walters also cited Central Bank report data, noting that despite rising costs in construction materials, labour, and land, the sector’s contribution to GDP has stagnated.
“In 2017, construction contributed $492.9 million to GDP. In 2024, after six years of this administration, it is at $496m — virtually no growth despite inflation exceeding 25 per cent,” the opposition senator said (IMC)