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Gov’t needs to buy out SSB homes @ Joe’s Hill Manor– Hon Marlon A. Penn
Hon Penn was at the time a guest on the November 13, 2023, edition of the Talking Points radio show on ZBVI 780 AM on the subject of social homes in the Virgin Islands.
“As relates to the Joes’s Manor, I have suggested, and it was my position when I was minister, that we need to take those things over from Social Security. We have too much of Social Security money tied up in those assets, depreciating assets if you ask me,” he told the show’s co-host on the topic of social housing.
“They are there earning no appreciation.. tied up there, not just the homes that were built [but] the land there's over 20 million [dollars] in land that Social Security owns that just is not earning any interest and not earning any value for the people,” he said.
Hon Penn said for monies invested by Social Security, the Board should be getting returns on its investments.
Buy homes from SSB - Hon Penn
“So we need to get those assets off the hands of Social Security… The government needs to buy it out from Social Security and then figure out how to get persons into those homes in an effective way,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hon Penn said the Government should also look into providing housing for persons who fall on hard times and want to get back on their feet.
“I've been pushing the Minister, and the Ministry about coming to make sure that this happens because it's becoming more and more an issue in terms of more persons who can't afford rent, who now are in between jobs, find themselves being kicked out of their apartments and they need some way to transition as they get themselves back on their feet,” he said.
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41 Responses to “Gov’t needs to buy out SSB homes @ Joe’s Hill Manor– Hon Marlon A. Penn ”
According to you, Hon Marlon Penn, Rep. D7, Government need to buy out SSB Homes. What I am able to see is that you mean the Top local political leaders should use some our finances to buy the homes that was built from our finances. That sound to me like a double whammy.
The Social security money that was used, and paid to the contractor or contractors was the people's money. If the government use more of the people's money to buy the people's homes for what you proposed that the government do, wouldn't that proposed act be, as late USA President, Ronald Reagan response to his political opponent when he branded his opponent argument as:also "Voodoo economics. If it is not "Voodoo economics, in my opinion it would be nothing other than ripoff economics.
I believe it is best to have those houses purchased from SSB , and make a plan with those persons on the checklist to rent to own. Therefore easy some people from renting and at the same time gaining asset after 20-30 years. This then increase the country’s development assets. And the young people should be first preference.
If they stay this way for another year they will be worthless! Hon. Penn is absolutely correct. The Government need to get persons into these homes before the totally fall apart. But we this won't happen because these people are too shortsighted.
WANTS TO CHASE OUT THE ( COI ) AND THE OTHER ONE ONLY SEEING RETARDATION IN THE ( COI ) AND IF THAT DIDN'T OPEN THE EYES OF THE INTELLIGENT BVILANDERS , THEN NOTHING ELSE WILL / THERE IS NO INTEGRITY AND NO TRANSPARENCY IN SIGHT ( WE GOT FRIGGED BY THESE WANNABE ARISTOCRAT GANSTERS IN THE OPPOSITION / GOVERNMENT AND THE CHURCH / WE NEED DEVINE INTERVENTION
The infrastructure of this territory is severely cracked our roads - which is a national asset, our, schools, hospitals etc need attention with urgency. I have never seen our territory this low before. It’s should not be the responsibility of the government to purchase those homes; you can’t use my money twice. We pay into the SS scheme, we pay our taxes so for Government to purchase them you will be using our money again for the same thing.
SS in my opinion may have had good intentions but from my observation and knowing what I know they didn’t do proper research before “biting off more than they can chew”. When you think about it SS basically engaged in Real Estate- do they have a license for that? They advertised these properties as low income properties
Not one low income recipient can afford them. So they revised the stipulations making them a bit more attractive -yet persons who make above per capita income still can’t afford them.
They have covenants which is the responsible thing to do but even that is a bit unrealistic when the terms and conditions are read. HOA fees are to be collected but they have not established an agency who will be collecting the fees.
I understand that they may be “ operating” at a loss but they need to figure it out, get it right! You can’t use my money twice for the same thing!
Well the answer is that two wrong decisions doesn't make a right decision. @Marlon, speak sense!!
The SSB simply has to sell for what they can get and recoup some ofthe moneys, it was a poor decision and they should face the consequence, not Gov't.
Imagine $275K for a one bedroom and your neighbour right in your kitchen. Make dat mek sense!!?
No Vision for the board and the people are perishing
What ah mess up there when it rain and come down long bush and in town
Carvin told ayo don’t build them tings up deh , ayo to dam harden and greedy
Skelton don’t listen and Boynes worst.
Nobody buying them give them away or rent to own
Pure schpidness, Marlon was minister and didn’t do a dam ting .
The contractor did so much s—t up deh but was paid full
To much friend, friend input pon we money
What start wrong will end wrong
Badmind will make dem tings rot!
I am just observing