Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Patrick Todd.
Part of the congregation during the Urban Development Commission’s 19th anniversary service at the Whitepark Wesleyan Holiness Church yesterday.
Decision pending
Mon, 08/08/2016 - 12:00am
By:
Patricia Thangaraj
A national review of those public sector organisations that provide housing services to members of the public is in progress while the decision of this Government to stipulate the future structure of the Urban Development Commission (UDC) is pending.
This is according to Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Patrick Todd, who delivered remarks at a special church service to mark 19 years of service of the Urban Development Commission yesterday at the Whitepark Wesleyan Holiness Church.
However, while decisions are being made, the UDC is not just sitting by and resting on its laurels, they have taken active steps to enhance the services that they provide to the public, improve their technology and ensure that their staff are up to date with their skills and knowledge through ongoing training initiatives, he stated.
“A national review of the government agencies which provide housing services to members of the public is well under way and the decision of the Government on the future structure of the UDC is pending. During this period, the Urban Development Commission has sought to streamline its services, update its technology to incorporate the application of GPS systems to the inventory and recording of its housing stock, and has involved its staff in a series of developmental activities.”
The Minister of State said that during periods of necessary change, no agency can be exempt from a review and what this Commission has sought to do is to defeat any hurdles that they may encounter in order to provide affordable housing solutions for the masses.
“Whatever its perceived shortcomings, the Urban Development Commission has consistently worked assiduously to provide housing and related services to the masses, including the indigent and vulnerable persons within our country. In times of fundamental change, no agency is excluded from review and the UDC Director and its staff should be complimented for taking the opportunity during its 19th year to make improvements that will allow the institution, in one form or another, to play a useful role in the national development of Barbados.”
In fact, through their initiatives, they are ensuring that they play their part in helping to ease the burden of poverty and to improve the lives of the urban population, thereby assisting this administration with the attainment of the post-2015 goals, said Todd.
“While the period under review was in a very challenging environment and one of review and restructuring, the Commission further tightened its controls as it focussed on its mandate to provide streamlined
services that would assist in the alleviation of poverty and to enhance sustainable quality of life and high standards of living within the urban population. This new thrust of the Commission situates it well within the United Nations Sustainable Development Programmes and post 2015 goal in relation to sustainable housing solutions.”