Walters calls for HOPE shutdown, minister’s resignation

Opposition Senator Ryan Walters has demanded the resignation of Minister of Housing and Lands Dwight Sutherland and closure of the government’s flagship housing programme over claims of financial mismanagement.

HOPE has faced intense scrutiny in recent months, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley acknowledging “teething problems” and troubling revelations that prompted two separate investigations—one at the departmental level and another led by the Auditor General.

In addressing the controversy during his contribution in the senator on Monday, Sen. Walters said the issues surrounding the project had been allowed to persist long enough, and significant action needed to be taken.

“Housing is in a mess. I am not only calling for HOPE to be shut down today, I called for this a few weeks ago before they were exposed,” he said. “How do you see it fit to spend taxpayers’ money loosely, when you have a National Housing Corporation that can do everything HOPE is doing.”

He called on the minister to resign, declaring that Sutherland has been shifting blame in the matter.

“This minister of vesting lands, because he can’t be minister of housing, is now trying to throw the previous management of HOPE under the bus, as if he excludes himself from the process of managing. He should resign. If he is not accepting responsibility, do like the Minister of Crime Prevention…retreat,” he said.

The opposition senator stressed that the apparent financial mismanagement at the entity cannot be overlooked.

“HOPE is wasting taxpayers’ money. We are not opposed in the Democratic Labour Party to spending 60 million in housing, but we need to get the houses.

“What took place that they [now have] new management at HOPE? Is the minister of vesting lands aware of corruption? He has to be held to account. Everybody is defending HOPE, HOPE needs to shut down before it wastes more taxpayers’ money.” (SB)