Opposition Housing spokesman Wayne Furbert has slammed Government plans to bring in portable homes for the homeless.

Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent is considering importing five to ten units costing about $20,000 each, but did not say where they would go.

He said the portable homes measure would be quick and easy to erect and said he was just considering all the options.

There are currently 64 names on the Bermuda Housing Corporation emergency waiting list and 230 registered for homes.

Yesterday, Mr. Furbert said he feared what was supposed to be a temporary measure would become a permanent one.

He said: “You cannot keep our people housed in these portable homes for a long period of time.

“Why should our people suffer because of this Government's housing policy for the last six years?”

He said Mr. DeVent had said those who were not part of the solution were part of the problem. But Mr. Fubert said through inactiviity with the housing portfolio, Mr. DeVent had become part of the problem because he had no solution.

“Some families will have to sit in portable homes because of the failure to come up with a housing policy for the last six years.”

He said PLP ministers should give up the comfort of their homes and live in the portable ones until they come up with a better solution.

“They are not serious about housing.

“It's been a whole year since the PLP won the second term of office but there's no comprehensive plan; no new rental units have been built.”

He said more and more people were becoming frustrated with Government's stance on housing.

“They point the fingers at everybody else, but it's about time they looked in the mirror when it comes to housing. Get on with it.”

“They are wasting people's time.”

Mr. DeVent said every time Government found a place to build, the Opposition got together with locals to oppose it.

He said: “I have come to understand if we succeed in housing people it is another nail in the coffin of the United Bermuda Party. At no point do I expect any positive response.”

The plan to build at Prospect was a prime example said Mr. DeVent, as the Opposition had opposed it.

Although conceding the UBP had built houses he said the bulk of that had been decades ago when land was more plentiful, now the job of finding vacant lots is a lot harder.

The minister said his Government had build homes in St. David's and Warwick and was now working with the private sector to build 200 homes in Marginal Wharf, St. David's.

On the portable homes issue Mr. DeVent said: “Mr. Furbert like everyone else who complains and takes a swipe at our initiatives can say whatever they like. The persons living in cars will be pleased to have some kind of roof over their head. It's a temporary solution.”

He challenged Opposition members to give over extra homes they owned to BHC in their rental guarantee programme, although he said landlords could be found on both sides of the House.

Government is now offering increased rents for the programme in which it takes over property management for private landlords who are given a guarenteed rent and the promise property will be returned in good condition.

Mr. DeVent said over the last year BHC had been concentrating on maintaining property including Fenton's Drive, Pembroke and The Battery in St. David's.

He said maintenance was a key part of owning property and while BHC did not rent its units at market rates it had to pay market rates for repair work.