The United Bermuda Party launched its first ever party newsletter yesterday with the issue devoted to the topic of affordable housing.

?How is your UBP tackling today?s key issues? is the headline of the July newsletter which went out to all the party?s 36 branches. Party members are responsible for delivering the newsletter to constituents.

UBP Public Relations Manager Jamal Simmons said yesterday he hopes the newsletter will work as a regular avenue of communication between the UBP and members of the public.

?We think it?s a good way for us to keep in touch with the community to let them know what we are about. It?s another way for us to continue to communicate with the public and talk substantially about the issues,? said Mr. Simmons.

He said people featured in the newsletter will be Government figures, mainly MPs and Senators, and former MPs. The party will consider expanding the newsletter Island-Wide.

?It was a great idea which came up within party, we said will give it a try and put it out as far as far as we can,? said Mr. Simmons. The article featured in the newsletter focuses on the PLP?s housing plan which the Opposition describes as lacking in vision and ?one which won?t solve the Island?s long term problems?.

Shadow Housing Minister Wayne Furbert and Senator Leonard Santucci share their views on the joint announcement by Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent and businessman Clifford Schorer of Bermuda Homes for People, which proposes 200 new homes at Southside.

In the article Mr. Furbert said failure by the Government to propose a housing plan after 6 years in Government will continue to add to the stress level and frustration of Bermuda?s people.

?We only have 21 square miles and this is going to be with us for a long time if we don?t tackle it together? he is quoted as saying.

Mr. Furbert says in the article that the real number of people on the Bermuda Housing Corporation?s Emergency Housing list is far higher than the official figure of 61 stated by Mr. DeVent on May 26.

?We think the real figure is between 200 and 300. If people stop calling the BHC for a few months then they take them off the list but it doesn?t mean those people have necessarily found a home,? he said. Sen. Santucci says in the newsletter that the UBP plan, which proposed 100 low rent homes during last year?s general election, offered incentives within the private sector to build affordable homes for sale, and to create a long term national housing strategy.

?The challenge is that we?ve created a community where is has become increasingly difficult for Bermudians to live in Bermuda. You can?t pay a $2,000-3,000 a month rent when you do not earn more than $500 a week,? he states.