The headline in the Daily Gleaner dated February 27, 2013, states "Phillips moves to amend NHT Act."
The fact that this has to be done means that the Government has erred in its decision to take $11 billion from the National Housing Trust each year for the next four years.
What is now worse is that the Minister of Finance is leading the way to change the laws governing the usage of the Trust's money in order to make moral what most Jamaicans feel is immoral.
This is clearly the wrong signal to be sent to a nation that is already suffering from high levels of corruption, crime and violence.
The NHT was established by Michael Manley to provide low-income housing solutions. It needs to be understood that the contributors to the Trust are the owners of the funds and the directors of NHT are the fund managers.
I believe that the action of the government to amend the NHT Act in order to legalise its action is immoral for several reasons. The one that stood out most in my mind is the fact that there are thousands of Jamaicans who have contributed and who are still contributing, but will never receive benefits because of;
(a) low wages
(b) no or inconsistent revenues
The $11 billion per annum could be better spent if it was used to provide more housing solutions to more Jamaicans. This action would create a ripple effect which no doubt would stimulate the economy. The block makers would make and sell more blocks. The hardware merchants would see an increase in demand, and the effects would continue down the line. A part of this money could even be loaned to the Students' Loan Bureau to assist more needy Jamaicans at lower rates.
As the Chinese proverb goes: "If you are planning for a year, plant corn; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; and if you are planning for a lifetime, educate your people."
Kirkland Anderson
Associate Professor/Chair
College of Business & Hospitality Management
Northern Caribbean University
The Government is sending the wrong signal
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The fact that this has to be done means that the Government has erred in its decision to take $11 billion from the National Housing Trust each year for the next four years.
What is now worse is that the Minister of Finance is leading the way to change the laws governing the usage of the Trust's money in order to make moral what most Jamaicans feel is immoral.
This is clearly the wrong signal to be sent to a nation that is already suffering from high levels of corruption, crime and violence.
The NHT was established by Michael Manley to provide low-income housing solutions. It needs to be understood that the contributors to the Trust are the owners of the funds and the directors of NHT are the fund managers.
I believe that the action of the government to amend the NHT Act in order to legalise its action is immoral for several reasons. The one that stood out most in my mind is the fact that there are thousands of Jamaicans who have contributed and who are still contributing, but will never receive benefits because of;
(a) low wages
(b) no or inconsistent revenues
The $11 billion per annum could be better spent if it was used to provide more housing solutions to more Jamaicans. This action would create a ripple effect which no doubt would stimulate the economy. The block makers would make and sell more blocks. The hardware merchants would see an increase in demand, and the effects would continue down the line. A part of this money could even be loaned to the Students' Loan Bureau to assist more needy Jamaicans at lower rates.
As the Chinese proverb goes: "If you are planning for a year, plant corn; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; and if you are planning for a lifetime, educate your people."
Kirkland Anderson
Associate Professor/Chair
College of Business & Hospitality Management
Northern Caribbean University
The Government is sending the wrong signal
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