Anyone on the HDC waiting list more than twelve years is seated in the same boat as the Remand Yard prisoners waiting for their cases to be called. You have to watch people get their homes after only waiting two years, five years, seven years, and depending what is called 'extenuating circumstances, no years at all. So, what can possibly be done to get ancient applicants to give some hope of equity?
A reasonably fair idea would be to ringfence persons waiting more that ten, fifteen and twenty years and set them up for their own small lottery. If the winner is unable to meet the requirements for ownership of the house won it should be legally allocated to a close relative or even a close and faithful friend. End of story. A prize won is a prize won.
Many keys handed out by the previous administration for houses not yet constructed present a problem in deliberating what is/what was preferential treatment. These key holders, regardless of the circumstances of their luck, are bona fide citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Nobody can go into the polling booths to see for whom you have voted. But there must be indelible proof that the houses are not going to be rented. Ever. This would entail the HDC strictly monitoring proof of owner occupancy. For those who were unfortunate at not receiving keys when they were being given out like chilibibi, remember, this is Trinidad and Tobago where Seepaul luck is not always Gopaul luck.
Life, in all its manifestations, is the ultimate big people lottery.
Lynette Joseph
Via e-mail