GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs has provided a fuller explanation of building permit figures presented during the 2026 Budget Debate, stressing that the reference to only five permits being “delivered” in 2026 did not mean that only five applications had been processed or approved.
The issue drew attention in Parliament after Members questioned how VROMI could have issued only five building permits during the year. Gumbs clarified that within the department, a permit classified as “issued” or “delivered” has already been approved, paid for and physically collected by the applicant. Applications can therefore be processed and approved without yet appearing in the number of permits that have actually been collected.
Gumbs said VROMI has continued processing applications throughout 2026, including older files dating as far back as 2018. Those applications may ultimately be approved or denied depending on the outcome of the review process.
The Minister also presented additional information showing that the challenge facing the department is larger than the number of permits collected. According to Gumbs, applications entering the system have generally exceeded the number that can be finalized during the same period, contributing to a continuing backlog even as the department improves its output.
Gumbs said a review of the most recent five-year period showed a cumulative increase of approximately 259 applications in the backlog. He stressed, however, that the figure does not include older applications that the Ministry has also been working through, including files dating back to 2018.
The Minister explained that the growth of the backlog should not automatically be interpreted as declining productivity.
The central problem, he said, is that permit demand continues to outpace processing capacity. This means that even when more applications are being handled, the backlog can still increase if more new applications enter the system than are finalized.
Gumbs said VROMI has nevertheless seen noticeable improvements in output and efficiency and described the preliminary results as promising. He told Parliament that the improvements demonstrate that measures introduced within the department are producing results, although further work is required to improve overall processing performance.
Applications Generally Handled Chronologically
The Minister also clarified how building permit applications move through the system.
In principle, applications are processed chronologically according to the date on which they were submitted. However, VROMI’s standard operating procedures allow defined exceptions for matters considered urgent or of significant public importance.
These include critical public infrastructure projects, disaster recovery projects and environmental threats requiring urgent mitigation.
The clarification provides additional context to concerns raised in Parliament that applicants may be waiting while newer applications move ahead. Gumbs indicated that exceptions are governed by established procedures rather than being applied without criteria.
Minister Acknowledges Capacity and Communication Problems
Gumbs also acknowledged that the Permit Department is not operating without challenges.
He identified deficiencies in both human and capital resources across VROMI, particularly within the departments responsible for permits, domain affairs, inspection and infrastructure.
The Minister also recognized communication with permit applicants as a persistent complaint and an area that needs improvement.
Rather than describing everything within VROMI as satisfactory, Gumbs said the challenges and shortcomings facing the Ministry formed part of the basis of his presentation to Parliament. He nevertheless expressed optimism that improvements in the department and efforts to modernize government processes are beginning to produce results.
Members of Parliament also requested more detailed information showing which permits have been processed and approved.
Gumbs said the Ministry had begun compiling the requested information and that the list was being verified by the appropriate department heads before being provided to Parliament through the confidential route.
The additional information is expected to give Parliament a clearer picture of the applications that have moved through the system beyond the five permits that had been fully issued and collected at the time of the Minister’s initial response.
