GSD questions ‘phantom housing workforce’

Over the last few months the GSD has been conducting an outreach program listening to the concerns and aspirations of people in the community.

One of the concerns expressed, the GSD said yesterday, has been the pace of works at some Government estates.

“Laguna, for example, still has many blocks where works have not even commenced despite a manifesto commitment in 2011 to finish the works in the last term,” the Opposition said in a statement.

Other blocks have had scaffolding for months with a minimum amount of workers on the site, the GSD said, adding that it is understandable that people feel very frustrated about the pace of works.

The GSD also highlighted during the last Parliamentary session, its concerns in relation to Government housing lifts, parts of which have been piled in the outskirts of Lathbury Barracks for well over 18 months.

“The lifts have been expressed as a priority by residents we have met,” the Opposition stated.

GSD spokesperson for Housing, Edwin Reyes said: “It is difficult to understand why there are practically no workers on site to finalise some of these projects.”

“Could it be lack of money? Number 6 Convent Place appears to have been completed on time and there were no shortage of funds for that.”

“Four years on and many tenants do not see light at the end of the tunnel.”