THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (RDC) will no longer accept shoddy work from contractors.

And it will be going after delinquent loan defaulters who have racked up $1.5 million in arrears.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Haynesley Benn, issued the warning last Wednesday at the RDC's Speightstown, St Peter offices, stating that from now on its nine field officers would be scrutinising and reporting on all projects.

"The field officers have to do their work. Our field officers have to go out there and we need to get people on board who know about building," he added

Benn said despite the fact that the costs of building two- and three-bedroom houses had increased, the RDC intended to do "a good job and not a job where, when the occupants try to return to their homes, there are further complaints".

"I've got a house where we have to almost do over the house. The step at the back is falling away from the house; the back is not aligned to the front. These are things we've got to be careful about. In some cases these costs include demolition and moving away of the stuff.

"The same thing has happened with respect to road repairs. We have people who go out there who have not a clue about building roads but people [were] given big contracts under the past administration to build and repairs roads. Money run out and the road not finished," he said.

Regarding the loans, Benn said some borrowers had not paid a cent since 1998. At the end of April 2008, of the 416 Rural Enterprise Fund loans on their books, 327 were delinquent amounting to $1 211 132.13 in arrears. There were 107 Livestock Development Fund loans disbursed at the end of same period, 72 in arrears to the tune of $327 493.08. (DS)