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'You’d have to win Puerto Rico Lottery' to afford SSB home on Joe’s Hill- E. Walwyn Brewley

- said some buildings remain occupied & that there is a water shortage issue
The Joe’s Hill House Development Project includes twenty-five (25) buildings, comprising fifty-two (52) residential units plus a commercial rental space. Photo: VINO/File
Talk show host and former legislator Mr E. Walwyn Brewley aka ‘GM’ has criticised the large amounts being requested by Social Security Board (SSB) for ownership of units at Joe’s Hill Manor Estate. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
Talk show host and former legislator Mr E. Walwyn Brewley aka ‘GM’ has criticised the large amounts being requested by Social Security Board (SSB) for ownership of units at Joe’s Hill Manor Estate. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Talk show host and former legislator Mr E. Walwyn Brewley aka ‘GM’ has criticised the large amounts being requested by Social Security Board (SSB) for ownership of units at Joe’s Hill Manor Estate.

The Joe’s Hill House Development Project includes twenty-five (25) buildings, comprising fifty-two (52) residential units plus a commercial rental space.

The units are a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom condos, single-family homes, and townhouses.

Prices, according to SSB, start at $275,900.

During an edition of Hot Seat with Mr Julian Gordon and E. Walwyn Brewley on ZBVI 780 AM on March 6, 2024, a caller lamented that it is difficult to get all of the units at the Joe’s Hill House Development Project occupied.

“What stopping people from going in?” the caller asked.

Water shortage?

Mr Walwyn responded that one of the issues was the lack of water. “They don’t have any water up there.”

Mr Gordon noted that the Joe’s Hill Development Project was intended by then Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith, OBE to stimulate the construction industry. “I am not sure what else went into the mix but that is from where I was sitting, and the impression I got.”

Mr Gordon also said it was intended to be a low and medium-income development.”

‘Who can afford that?’- E. Walwyn Brewley

Mr Brewley then said that indeed when the project started it was supposed to be low-income housing for people, and first-time homeowners, “but then Social Security Department, whatever, they said it was never meant to be low-income housing. They never told anybody that.”

“Affordable housing,” Mr Gordon commented.

“Affordable to whom now?” Mr Brewley responded with a laugh. “You know the price of a one-bedroom unit in that place? Who can afford that? You will have to win the Puerto Rico lottery to be able to afford that.”

Mr Brewley said that even if someone were to occupy the units, “you would be told there is no water. You might have to go down the ghut to take a shower when that ghut is running.”

22 Responses to “'You’d have to win Puerto Rico Lottery' to afford SSB home on Joe’s Hill- E. Walwyn Brewley”

  • resident (10/03/2024, 13:17) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    bvi love
  • I won't. (10/03/2024, 13:19) Like (30) Dislike (6) Reply
    With that money I will want my yard and own space...This was a scam, a scheme that went wrong when the X got arrested..He had the plan..
    • really?? (10/03/2024, 19:48) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
      Stop talking what you all dont know. If you want the truth call Antoinette Skelton and Ian Smith. This had NOTHING to do with Government or Andrew Fahie.
      • Native Tongue (12/03/2024, 07:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        At really.... you will not get the truth from either of them.
  • lk (10/03/2024, 14:30) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    That's reel talk mr Brewley
  • Banks too (10/03/2024, 15:20) Like (49) Dislike (3) Reply
    It is not Just SSB. The banks too. National Bank is demanding 20%. This is crazy. For construction they will lend 100% there is no sense to these nonsense. You would think as a local bank they would have more favorable terms for locals.10 -12% would be competitive and affordable. Then next is the earning to payment ratio of three times. Som for a $5000 mortgage earnings must be over $15000 monthly.. how many locals are earning $15000 monthly. So the banks have effectively put owning a home out of the reach of locals. That is what he needs to address.
  • resident (10/03/2024, 16:43) Like (25) Dislike (8) Reply
    A standard mortgage down payment is 20%; less than that generally requires some sort of government backstop. And if your salaries are not three times your mortgage (including insurance), you can't afford that property.

    However, generations of BVIlanders have built their homes on family land, with the help of friends and family members. They poured the slab, stacked the block, someone did the plumbing and electrics. Of course it took sacrifice.

    Now people would rather have a nice car, hair weaves, fancy nails, gold chains, etc.
  • NB (10/03/2024, 16:59) Like (18) Dislike (5) Reply
    Ayo leave them houses alone. They belong to the spiders and ghost .
  • WHAT!!! (10/03/2024, 22:10) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
    For thst kind of money I do not want to be looking into my neighbors house.
  • Pot and kettle (11/03/2024, 02:13) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We all know what you done do and got when you were in government.

    I’ll stop there.
  • bvi (11/03/2024, 04:54) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Buy curtains and mind your business
  • smh (11/03/2024, 08:16) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's best to buy your own property and build your home for that kind of money.
  • money (11/03/2024, 09:21) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    With a 10% downpayment, the monthly on the cheapest unit at 7% works out to be $1,050. If you need three gross times salary to qualify, then lender would need to be earning about $ 38,000 a year. How many people earn that, and have $ 28,000 available for downpayment?
  • meh (11/03/2024, 10:29) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Leave it to local idiots to complete idiotic projects like these, and they wonder why the UK wants to take back over THEIR OWN country.
  • No Water? (11/03/2024, 10:59) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    What's the plan to bring in water? Do the properties have cisterns?
    • facts (11/03/2024, 14:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      All properties have cisterns. Potable water is being worked on now.
  • D RICH (11/03/2024, 22:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why would they build such houses to close to each other, everyone looking into each others house no privacy 2 no space for kids to place 3 can’t play music at your own level an list goes on give poor people the house pay $100 month
  • Boss (12/03/2024, 14:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the concern is about helping the people, it's best they rent for affordable prices, either for home or businesses.
  • A (13/03/2024, 13:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    so many people on the street and living in unsafe conditions and houses catching dust smh only in tola


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