St. Vincent and the Grenadines Minister of Housing Andrew John, made a stunning disclosure in the House of Assembly, revealing that the ministry was left with over $15 million in inherited debt from the previous administration, severely hampering its initial operating capacity.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, the Housing Minister detailed how the newly appointed administration was forced to allocate its early resources to paying off massive outstanding arrears rather than focusing entirely on new home construction.
The Minister recalled that during the national budget exercise, an opposition senator had confidently asserted that the $15 million allocated to the housing ministry would be insufficient.
At the time, the newly appointed minister did not understand why the opposition was so certain of this shortfall. However, the explanation quickly became clear once the new leadership took office and audited the books.
The Minister accused the previous administration of deliberately “setting up” the incoming government, knowing full well that the Ministry of Housing already owed more than $15 million to various suppliers, contractors, and local businesses.
“You knew at the time when we came for the budget that the housing ministry owed more than $15 million to people,” the Minister stated, addressing the opposition benches. “So what have we been doing since we have been here? We have been paying debt.”
The Minister explained that the first nine months of the new government’s tenure have been a constant struggle to manage construction demands while systematically clearing these massive outstanding liabilities.
Among the debts being resolved, the Minister highlighted:
- Significant outstanding payments that have now been completed to regional steel and building materials giant Tank-Weld.
- Completed debt settlements with local hardware and building supplier Coreas.
- A long-ignored debt of nearly $300,000 owed to BRAGSA, which had remained unpaid since 2024.
“This is what we have to contend with while we struggle to build the homes,” the Minister remarked, adding that the government remains resolute in its commitment “to get things done” despite being severely cash-strapped by the inherited liabilities.
Despite “doing this without money,” the Minister presented a comprehensive progress report of housing projects assigned and completed during the second quarter of the year (April 1 to June 30, 2026).
The ministry successfully advanced 88 distinct projects across the country during this three-month window:
- 52 roof repairs and replacements
- 12 new homes constructed
- 5 bathroom additions
- 3 bedroom additions
- 6 electrical installations
- 4 plumbing works
- 6 general repairs and additional works
The Minister commended the technical staff and project coordinators at the ministry for executing these numbers under tight fiscal constraints. Addressing the opposition’s skepticism regarding the figures, the Minister assured Parliament that the data is fully recorded and reflects a significant surge in grassroots development.
The Minister also used the parliamentary platform to vigorously refute allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition, who had accused the government of “selling homes” meant for indigent families and those displaced by Hurricane Beryl.
Labeling the accusations as “deliberate mischief and misrepresentation,” the Minister clarified that the government has only asked a single individual to pay for a house that was assigned to her.
The Minister outlined the specific reasons for this decision:
- The recipient was not affected by Hurricane Beryl.
- The recipient is a stably employed public servant who has the financial capacity to pay.
“If your government thought it was okay to give them a house and give them land without making a contribution to it, that does not happen under our government,” the Minister declared, emphasizing that free housing is strictly reserved for the indigent, poor, and genuine disaster victims. “As long as you are working and you have not been affected by Hurricane Beryl, you will be paying for a house.”
