Government passed a bill to exempt the Bermuda Housing Corporation from paying duty on building materials for housing projects on Friday.

The bill will also apply to the Harbourside Village building project at Southside by Bermuda Homes for People Ltd.said: ?Pricing in Bermuda?s housing market is such that many honest, hardworking Bermudians cannot afford to buy a house in their own country.

?In addition the prices of renting available houses or apartments has risen to such an extent that many of these same hardworking people can barely afford to rent a home in Bermuda.

?When one adds these circumstances together it constitutes a recipe for social discontent if it is not addressed.

?In the existing market, housing costs absorbs such a large portion of family incomes that many parents find themselves in the situation of having to work more than one job.

?As a result of this, they are spending less time at home with their children and the traditional family unit has come under pressure. If the situation is not addressed it is inevitable that social problems will create a snowball effect which will ripple through the entire community.?

She said promoting home ownership was an objective because it provides families with a sense of pride and self-worth worth.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Number Two) Act 2004 would help widen home ownership and take the sting out of the rental market said Ms Cox.said ?the dream of owning a home in Bermuda is fast becoming an impossibility... Why should this Parliament support a corporation (BHC) that has not shown it has cleaned up its problems? Why give duty relief to a Corporation that has not filed financial statements in the last three years??

Premier Scott stood up four times during Mr. Furbert?s speech to make points of order because Mr. Furbert said he ?smelled a rat? as a former civil servant was now ?running the show? on the board of the Bermuda Homes for People.

Mr. Furbert said: ?I asked how to buy (one of the new Southside) homes. I own two homes. But they told me to come down, put a deposit down and sign up... Overall I think the bill is good.said the ?bill does not mount to a hill of beans? because it ?took care of the developer and not the purchaser?.called the Opposition?s points ?fallacious? as ?this legislation enhances the wide support from other Ministries needed to assist the Housing Minister with the houses to be built in Southside and other areas.?said: ?One of the things I think we all agree with the Customs tariff is that the objective is clear and honourable on behalf of Government to ensure those who are unable to buy due to high property market have the opportunity... There has to be tight oversight by the Ministries of Finance and Housing. It is paramount to get this right!

?(The Southside development) is in my constituency, so I went down there and visited the open house... I was told you could speculate by putting down a $10,000 you could flip the houses... When I discovered this I spoke to the Minister... The Premier and Minister said it had now been rectified... The intention is good. Now that is not to say it will not be wrought with some problems, but the Government is to be applauded.?housing project: ?Might end up with another BHC or another Berkeley and the taxpayers can?t afford to bear that burden.said he had ?no doubt Government intends (the housing project) to be a success? and called it a ?noble objective? , but ?how is (the project) going to be enforced. Where is the contract and conditions?? he asked.said ?for the last several hours the Government had been subjected to schizophrenic sabre-rattling.?

She said the value of the relief would be $6-8 million. The Customs Tariff Amendment (No. 2) Act 2004 was committed and the Opposition made several amendment suggestions.

In response to questions regarding a limit on fees charged by developers, Ms Cox said there were no management fees. The properties are to be lease-hold and there will be ?open book? transparency in terms of records and profits.