Housing Minister Zane DeSilva has criticised the opposition OBA for stopping a housing project at a Dockyard site that is now pegged for affordable housing, saying “they found money for the America’s Cup”
“$100 million for the America’s Cup… but you couldn’t build homes for our people…”
Housing and Municipalities Minister Zane DeSilva today affirmed that affordable housing projects in St David’s and Sandy’s have been financed.
He also told the House of Assembly that one of those sites, Victoria Row in Dockyard, had a 100-home project underway when the OBA took power in 2012, at which time it was curtailed with 20 homes complete.
Dr Douglas De Couto, Shadow Finance Minister, hit back by citing a 2012 budget deficit of $127 million prior to capital spending.
“Would the Minister have preferred that housing have been built, or that civil servants not have been paid?”, he countered.
Miniter DeSilva responded, “this government cares about the people of the country, and we will do both.”
Gary Foster Skelton questioned the Housing Minister afterwards, citing the economic conditions of 2012 compared to now, particularly in the International Business sector.
The Minister doubled down on his position, saying that “they say that our debt was too high, but a couple of months later they find $100 million for the America’s Cup.”
WATCH the interview above.
