ONE wonders if there is a silently conspicuous contract between the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Government. The Outameni purchase is only another in the series of NHT and People’s National Party (PNP) political affairs.

Under a PNP Government money has allegedly been used to develop a housing complex that benefited many short-term contributors. The PNP Government used NHT funds as a major part of negotiating their International Monetary Fund (IMF) contract. And here we are again. Can you smell something?

When the Jamaica Labour Party used money from the Trust to purchase lands at Ferry the accusation of self-interest by the PNP was strong. The poignant words of then Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller coated the party in garb of incompetence. But now one must wonder whether the PNP’s response was for the concern of the public or their own. It would seem they were only livid of such actions because their silent contract with the NHT was being muddled by the JLP.

It has become common practice of the PNP to make decisions that best benefit their political prestige and spuriously remaining oblivious to the plight of the Jamaican people; having little regard for how we may think, feel or impacted by their actions.

This recent action, coupled with past actions regarding the NHT, raises the issue of the governance policies of the National Housing Trust. The Trust is funded by the people of Jamaica, yet the people have no input in how their money is spent. Who speaks for the people? The political representatives have been selected by the people, but unfortunately these political leaders speak for themselves only, represent themselves only, care for them themselves only. The people have no voice.

When was the last time the NHT did some canvassing or research to get the people’s perspective on how it can better serve its contributors? There is an urgent need for a change in how decisions are made at the NHT.

Owning a home is one of the biggest investment one can make. It is one of the greatest accomplishment one can attain. For some, it may be the only investment. The National Housing Trust was set up to assist the Jamaican people to accomplish this feat, but based on the current trajectory, the projection of this level of attainment and investment remains quite elusive for many of us.

The prime minister indicated that she was not aware of the Outameni purchase until the media broke it. This is ignorance another time too many. How can a prime minister of a country be so uninformed about its happenings?

When one places the governance structure of the NHT under the microscope you must ask: How is it possible for the board to have such autonomy in a decision to spend taxpayers’ money? Where is the accountability that is prudent for the development of organisations? If the prime minister was kept in the dark about such a crucial matter can you imagine what else has been going on? It is obvious someone is not doing their job. So, why is the current board still in place? Why hasn’t the prime minister taken control of this situation?

The board did not attempt such action while Bruce Golding was prime minister. I do not think they would even conceive such a thought if P J Patterson was in power. They know that no one is watching them. Is this the silent contract? Therefore, one wonders, is there a deeper issue here that is absent from the current discourse? So many questions, so little answers.

Instead of seeing this Outameni blunder as an opportunity to create change, the PNP Administration has responded with gross defiance and egregious arrogance — a trait that is ‘genetic’ to this Administration.

I continue to ask myself whether or not there is any element of business competence on the board of the NHT. I am aware that several of the board members are coming directly from unions where, ironically, their sole responsibility is to protect the interest of the people. How quickly this role is forgotten? The question now is, shouldn’t there be members on the board who possess infallible business acumen to keep others in line when proposals such as the Outameni is placed on the table? Clearly there is need for a balance in competence or we would not be in this mess.

I long for the day when, as a nation, we will embrace the power that we have, join hands and heart to hold our political representatives accountable for their actions; a time when hiding behind political prestige is impossible; a time when there is nothing such as a safe seats in politics; a time that will force all to work for where they are; a time when political interference will be extinct; a time when will be extremely allergic to mediocrity, arrogance and corruption.

It is about time this political affair between politicians and government agencies be dismantled so that the country can experience more growth and development.

Some of us are in an unfortunate place. We will continue to make NHT contributions for the remainder of our working lives and will never be able to benefit from it because our salaries do not meet the requirements. This is the plight the NHT should be trying to solve, instead, it is meddling where it ought not to be.

With this knowledge, I guess we should all brace ourselves for our end. They may later boot us from the system because we are viewed to be at a age where they believe we can no longer make valuable contribution to the workforce because we are too old. We will then live on the streets and increase the number of homeless and vulnerable people. Some of us may be lucky to have children who might be willingly to move us into their homes as part of their pension for us. Others of us will not be so lucky. The Government will continue to use our NHT contributions to fund their political agendas while street side is where some of us will continue to lay our heads.

Dorraine Reid is an educator who also holds a Master of Science degree in public sector management.