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HOME	FEBRUARY 12th, 2005

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"What Ivan expose no Wildman can cover- up", and "House, House, House, House Keith you forget".

The latter is reference to the symbol of the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. These words dominated two of the placards carried by a small gathering of supporters of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) during a peaceful protest for housing last Friday.

The congress party headed from Burns Point and travelled along the Carenage straight to the Ministry of Housing located in the Financial Complex building. Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas who led the small gathering walked with a petition in hand to deliver to Housing Minister Yolande Bain-Joseph to voice the party's complaint about the slow pace in which attention is given to the housing situation in the country after the passage of Hurricane Ivan.

A large percentage of the housing stock on the island were affected in some way by Ivan, the most powerful hurricane to hit the island in 50 years. Several home owners have been complaining about not being able to access some of the grant assistance the Keith Mitchell government has been speaking about during a number of public meetings held around the country.

The NDC supporters assembled outside of the Grenada Postal Corporation (GPC) building at Burns Point, St. George's and proceeded along the Carenage under heavy police presence to the Financial Complex to deliver the petition.

The Opposition Leader was joined in the march by senior party members Nazim Burke (Memember of Parliament for St. George North-east) , Peter David (M.P for the Town of St. George's, Glynis Roberts (M.P for south St. George and Senator George Prime. When the marchers arrived at the Housing Ministry they were prevented from entering the building by a senior police officer. "You all not allowed to go inside dey", he shouted to a placard carrying demonstrator.

Thomas, along with the Parliamentarians and a few journalists then proceeded inside the building into a small walk way to the office of Minister Bain-Joseph. "We are here to present a petition to the Minister", Thomas enquired from one of the workers inside the office.
"She is not here, Sir", responded a female employee. "Who is taking the petition on her behalf", the Opposition Leader asked.

"Well we do not have any instructions to receive anything on the Minister's behalf, Sir", responded the female employee. "Somebody has to receive it", Thomas insisted. The female employee then told the Opposition Leader that Minister Joseph was not there but her Secretary is around and so she can accept it on her (the Minister's) behalf.

In presenting the petition with about 1000 names, the NDC political leader stated that the names collected reflect the views of people who are dissatisfied and discontented with the housing situation in the country. He expressed the hope that the Housing Minister will take the matter to government for the issue to be dealt with in a speedy way for the improvement of the housing situation in the country.

Speaking to reporters after the presentation of the petitions the Opposition Leader, a Barrister at-Law by profession expressed disappointment in not being able to hand deliver the names himself to Minister Bain-Joseph. He spoke about not wanting to speculate as to the reason for her absence but the NDC expected her to be at her office to collect the petitions.

According to Thomas, the NDC sees housing as very important and must be given priority. He called on government to establish sub-offices of the Housing Authority of Grenada (HAG) in all parishes in the country so that home owners can go there to get information on assistance that are available.

The NDC political boss charged that supporters of the ruling party are the ones benefitting from the programmes available to provide assistance to home owners. The petitions were collected during a public meeting of the Congress party held at the La. Tante junction in St. David's on January 30.

Party officials believe that the situation facing home owners has reached crisis proportion within the past five months. The opposition is taking the government to task with putting emphasis on the rebuilding of the cricket stadium to get it ready for the 2007 Cricket World Cup scheduled for the Caribbean.

The NDC is said to be planning another rally for housing on February 27 at Gouyave, St. John's.