August 23, 2005

Dear Sir,

About six years ago, there were houses down at Southside allocated by the BHC as emergency housing that would be affordable for Bermudian families in need.

My understanding is that families who had been evicted and had nowhere to go would be given the opportunity to live in these houses ?temporarily? or, as I have heard recently, until they got on their feet.

Well, the majority of those families are still living in those homes and it appears they have been on their feet for a while. We can see that some own their own business, some have their kids in private school, some have been able to send their children to college, some have fancy toys in the yard, such as boats and hobby bikes which indicate to me that they are on their feet. Some have others living with them who help to pay the low rent of a three-bedroom and in some cases a fourth, with the new enclosures.

I am excited about the fact that Bermudian families have been given an opportunity to get on their feet and have nice things and are able to do nice things for their children. I would be very excited to know that other families who are in need get a similar opportunity but most of these are still on the waiting lists or live in tents.

I have first-hand experience how the housing system works as I was once evicted and went to the Bermuda Housing Corporation for help. I was given an application which I completed and was told that there was nothing available and that they would get in touch with me if something did become available.

Needless to say, I was never contacted. It has been six or so years now and I still have not heard from them. I actually had to contact them. When I contacted the BHC I asked where I was on the waiting list and no one could tell me. In fact they ignored my question. I repeatedly asked them this question when I called to check for vacancies and it appeared no one could tell me.

Funnily enough, a person I know applied after I did with the same type of circumstance and the BHC found a place for her in the same vicinity that I had asked for. If I had been higher on the waiting list which I was as I had applied earlier than she had wouldn?t I or shouldn?t I have been given the vacancy before her?

I would suggest for the future and to be fair and appear organised, when a person completes an application, that application be provided a control number, similar to the summer student programme. That application will then be prioritised. If you have a court notice for eviction then of course you are on the priority list and your application will be moved to that pile and considered before those that are in the general pile. The control number becomes your reference number and will also determine your place in either piles/listings. This way every person will be treated fairly and it wouldn?t be because you know a certain person in housing that has helped you along.

I also would like to bring the public up to date with the ?special arrangements? that are made within the Bermuda Land Development. This entity is responsible for renovating an allotted amount of homes at Southside and then to sell them to qualified Bermudians.

Now, from what I understand there should be no one living in these houses whilst the renovations are waiting to take place unless there is a special agreement with the BHC and persons from those listings in the fair and correct order have been given preference.

How then did employees of the BLDC secure living rights on a ?temporary-specially arranged? basis? Are they any more ?special? than those on the listing at the BHC that have children and that have to wait and in some cases a long time for housing? I don?t think so; they are just as Bermudian as the rest of us. In one case, the employee ran a nursery and in the other it is a single family. Husband, wife and one child. Both husband and wife are working.

I also would like to ask how we get on the ?special? list to use the private beach that is locked up to the public but when there is a special holiday, i.e. 24th May or Cup Match, we see privileged person using that beach. I would love to use that beach on the holiday as well to enjoy with my family, can you tell me how I can do this or others can do this for that matter.

I am not trying to hurt anyone through this message but what I am trying to show my fellow Bermudians is that, we need to pay attention and ask questions and get answers.

We should be treated fairly and if our Government continues to extend ?special favours? then we will continue to go backward.

My message to the Government is before you become defensive and make excuses, think about your response and answer wisely. I am a voter that I voted for change. Change is a process and there are all kinds of stumbling blocks along the way. But, at some point there needs to be accountability and with this Government I have found they avoid being accountable and prefer to pass the blame along.