Government backbencher Trevor Prescod has urged government to rethink its house building program which he has heavily criticized in the House of Assembly pointing out what he sees as a number of missteps or short-comings.

He was speaking during debate on a resolution to vest 20 acres of government land in Hope Incorporated, a company formed by government.

The land is situated at Hanson Plantation stretching across the parishes of St. George, St. Michael and Christ Church.

Another twenty acres of that plantation is being vested in the National Housing Corporation also for housing construction with another joint venture partner.

The land is to be used to build 300 low-income homes.

But Mr. Prescod, the MP for St. Michael East, is concerned about how and to whom housing building contracts are being awarded.

Mr. Prescod also disagrees with a large scale switch to private contractors to carry out government housing building projects.

He argues that given the high cost of construction materials this may not work in the best interest of the public.

Government MP Trevor Prescod.

Mr. Prescod spoke after Minister of Housing and Lands, Dwight Sutherland, outlined an ambitious government home construction plan.

Mr. Sutherland says government is working on securing 500 million dollars in funding to construct ten thousand homes in partnership with private sector companies.

Some of those homes are to be built on the land that was the subject of the resolution.

He explained government’s funding model for home construction.

He also announced government’s intention to transfer to the long-time occupants, ownership of a large number of units at the Pine, St. Michael.

Minister of Housing and Lands, Dwight Sutherland.