00:00Housing Minister Dr. David Lee has met with the board of the Housing Development Corporation, HDC.
00:06The meeting stemmed from reports that a family who made a down payment for a home at the HDC Corinth site
00:12found strangers occupying their home, triggering an investigation by the minister.
00:18While from his meeting with HDC's board of directors, Dr. Lee says, quote,
00:23We had discussions on the issue.
00:24At the end, there are different reasons why some individuals are occupying HDC homes,
00:30but there are some who are actually occupying it by breaking into the homes, end quote.
00:36Former planning minister under the People's National Movement Administration, Camille Robinson-Ragis,
00:42has stated that subsequent to the April 28, 2025 general election,
00:47HDC took a decision to regularize quarters occupying HDC properties.
00:52However, Dr. Lee says, quote,
00:54A regularizing policy document was done by HDC and presented to the two previous ministers around February last year,
01:03but it was never approved or went to cabinet for approval based on the information that is told to me, end quote.
01:11There are unconfirmed reports that since news of the policy has come to light,
01:15there are those who have been attempting to source HDC homes for illegal occupation.
01:20Minister Lee did not verify whether these reports are factual,
01:24but he points to a no-tolerance approach to the overall situation, saying, quote,
01:29Any policy change of regularizing individuals is on hold after my meeting with the board.
01:34Any individuals who have occupied homes illegally will be removed, end quote.
01:40Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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