MP Mohit: Government Abdicates its Duties to Affected Tenants
The PNM government has totally abdicated their duties to the affected population of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Donna Cox after disgustingly characterizing the vulnerable and needy as being greedy, now makes an about turn and requests of landlords to provide a moratorium to tenants as it relates to rental arrears.
Did the Minister consider the financial circumstances of landlords when this outcry was made under the guise of compassion?
According to media reports there are inconsistencies as to reasons for increased evictions. Despite the lack of any imperial evidence to support her assertions the goodly Minister has failed to account for the billions of dollars frittered away under the pretext under the Covid-19 relief mechanisms.
It is quite disturbing and disingenuous for the Minister to impress upon landlords to demonstrate restraint in pursuing legitimate rental arrears and portraying this group (landlords) as mercenaries whilst the government continues to mismanage resources of the nation.
Landlords are also affected by the pandemic and depend on their rental income to sustain their families and themselves.
The Minister should empathize with those landlords who have
-Mortgages to pay with no respite relative to loan repayment or loan rescheduling.
Are the bank and lending agencies assisting these landlords?
–Faced with the escalating prices of construction materials which has almost doubled in recent times.
What incentives measures are being contemplated to support/sustain landlords in the maintenance of their buildings/properties?
–Outstanding payments under the Rental Assistance Programme?
What immediate measures or undertaking would be advanced to landlords who are still awaiting payments, should there not be a guaranteed payment period?
Madam Minister it is imperative that the government honor their commitments to the population by addressing the fall out of the Covid-19 pandemic equitably and not burden any particular sector in this instance landlords.
Therefore, the call by Minister Cox tantamount to the government’s abdication of their responsibilities.