PHILIPSBURG–Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard (United Democrats) has once more expressed her concerns about the lack of action from St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) pertaining to the repairs of the homes in Belvedere.
“It has been almost two years since Irma, and only now is the Housing Foundation making an effort to have a proper dialogue with the residents of the units in Belvedere. I am happy to see that World Bank monies have been released for repairs of some of the Belvedere units,” Leonard said.
During presentations held last week with a group of residents, they were informed that repairs to their units depend on the rent collected, as the foundation’s finances are not in order, she added.
“Most of the residents of Belvedere go to sleep every night wondering what will happen to their belongings whenever there is heavy rain and some wind. It cannot be that after two years of silence, proper meetings are finally held with the residents to inform them that they must wait, as the financials of the foundation are not in order and those who do not pay outstanding monies will be put out. These are the same persons who entered a lease-to-own agreement and to date cannot be the owner of their own homes,” she said.
Leonard requested that Parliament Chairwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams schedule an urgent meeting with SMHDF and Minister of Public Housing VROMI Miklos Giterson. “There must be clarity as to what the issue is. Are these units even insured?” she asked.
Leonard had submitted a letter to the Minister in November 2018 requesting urgent clarification on the status of repairs. She was particularly concerned about the minister’s role in this matter, as government subsidises the foundation. She is yet to receive a response from Giterson or his ministry.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84930-leonard-requests-update-on-belvedere-repairs-and-smhdf-financial-situation
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