SHADOW MINISTER OF HOUSING Michael Lashley has accused Government of breaching its social contract in relation to providing low-income homes to poor Barbadians.

During a Press conference Saturday at his law office in Roebuck Street, the City, the attorney-at-law said it was amazing that after two years, Minister of Housing Reginald Farley was about to bring another burden on the backs of poor people.

Farley said at a two-day public/private partnership seminar at Hilton Barbados last Tuesday that rising inflation had hit the primary homes project for low-income earners, forcing Government to pass on a five per cent increase to prospective house owners.

He added increasing costs, including those for cement, steel and labour, had forced the National Housing Corporation (NHC) to increase the prices.

"I think that it was a lame-duck response from Mr Farley which is just not cutting it. All he is saying is that the housing for that section of Barbados was pushed in the background," Lashley charged.

"All we are getting is a lot of fancy talk, fluff, pretty talk and no action. In fact, can Farley tell us the true financial position of the NHC since the $50 million judgement [on the Warrens Complex] and the impact it is going to have on the NHC's agenda of providing housing for the poor?"

The St Philip North Member of Parliament also lambasted Farley for using the "excuse" of bureaucratic delays, Town Planning approval and a shortage of surveyors for thehold-ups.

"I do not believe this thing of Town Planning delay; it is utter nonsense. I am questioningMr Farley as to whether there was any delay in the Town Planning approval in the other upscale and multi-million-dollar housing projects for the rich." (JW)