National housing corporation does not operate on a political agenda, says St Kitts-Nevis official

Wednesday’s edition of ‘Working for You’ featured officials from the National Housing Corporation (NHC) where several issues relevant to the institution were discussed. One such issue was that of the idea among persons from the public that the institution operates on a political agenda.

In addressing the issue, Charles Morton, NHC’s recently appointed General Manager, said that the institution is professional.

“We have no business in politics… that is not the fundamental area for us as a corporation. We are focused on getting and providing a need, by being the best provider of housing stock in the Federation. That is our mandate, our vision, and so we don’t ‘watch no face’,” said the general manager. “We are a professional organization which is going to ensure that we deliver on the mandate that the government wants.”

He noted that in a society where some persons are politically sensitive, individuals will link getting a house to politics. He added that that is their perception and not the reality.

“We are mandated to providing housing and so once that is the case some persons will receive housing allocation before others and immediately people are going to call fowl and say oh it’s because of politics. So, I want to debunk that idea early and to indicate that one of the mandates that I have is to change the idea and the perception of the National Housing Corporation,” said Mr. Morton.

Camalia Williams, Mortgage Manager, shared similar sentiments and noted that the mandate of NHC is to build for the poor and the indigent.

“So, at the end of the day the corporation has to say if the person is qualified and if politics has to be a part of it then we would have to check and see if the Board has that information,” she said. “Obviously, it is a country where politics is discussed but we do not make our qualification process based on the politics, it is just the application to see if the person can pay, so we stick to what is on the paper.”

As outlined in its mission statement, NHC is committed through its mandate to add and improve the existing supply of houses, promote greater efficiency by raising standards, assist the economically challenged with their housing needs, guide, counsel and educate the nation in housing matters, ensure that every resident has a house to call their own, thereby improving the socio-economic conditions of the residents of St. Kitts and Nevis.

NHC’s vision is to be the best housing suppliers for the working-class by helping citizens realize their goals of owning properties and ensuring that their goals are achieved regardless of their status, while contributing to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Federation.