Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell says he sees nothing wrong if the homes of private individuals are used by the Housing Authority of Grenada (HAG) to store material for the government-funded House Repair Programme.

He was responding to statements made by the opposition who charged that material for distribution are kept at the homes of government ministers and political activists of the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration.

Government embarked on a house repair and reconstruction programmes following the widespread damage to the country's housing stock in the aftermath of hurricane Ivan last year.

An assessment done revealed that about 90% of the houses in the country were affected by the category 3 hurricane. Citizens have been complaining about the method used in the distribution process in that only supporters of the present administration are the ones getting building material.

Several committees were formed among the villages with the aim of identifying vulnerable families for assistance as well as ensuring equity in the distribution. The issue about Parliamentarians storing material underneath their homes was first raised by Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas during a sitting last month.

Thomas, Political Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed concern that material belonging to HAG are being kept at the home of Sport Minister, Senator Adrian Mitchell in the constituency of St. Patrick's East.

There are also reports that the home of an activist of the NNP who resides in St. Andrew's South-east is also used to store material. The activist is widely tipped to contest the seat for the ruling party in the next election against the incumbent, Kendrick Fullerton of the Congress party.

GRENADA TODAY has reliable information that several persons have received material on more than one occasion and have turned around and sold them. Dr. Mitchell told the sitting of parliament that if a citizen volunteers to store material under his house, once there is transparency and accountability he has no problem with that.

Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas took strong objection with the statements made by the Grenadian leader, pointing out that it is wrong for government material to be put in the hands of Parliamentarians and political activists since this is not sending a good message to donor agencies.

The government's own Audit Department has raised concerns about private homes being used to store material for government projects. Also speaking on the issue was Parliamentary Representative for St. Andrew's South-east kenrick Fullerton who expressed concern about the support given by Prime Minister Mitchell for private citizens being allowed to store material on his premises earmarked for a government project.

Fullerton wondered whether or not the individual will allow the Audit Department to come on his/her premises to check the amount of material received in order to ensure that there is accountability.