Farley End of Housing Lottery System
At the launch of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) « Blueprint » ahead of the January 12th THA elections, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine announced a sweeping overhaul of the island’s housing distribution policy while fielding questions from young professional Shenell Felix. Responding to concerns about equitable access to land and opportunities, Augustine declared an end to the « electronic lottery » system for housing, describing it as fundamentally unfair.
The Chief Secretary outlined a new « First-In, First-Out » policy to replace the random draw mechanism. He argued that a system where someone who applied twenty years ago could be bypassed by a totally new applicant was unjust. Under the new framework, priority will be strictly based on the date of application, ensuring that long-standing applicants are processed first.
Augustine also detailed specific provisions for vulnerable groups and essential workers. The new policy includes set-asides for the differently-abled and national security personnel to ensure diverse communities. Furthermore, the administration plans to target young professionals specifically, aiming to secure them mortgages in their mid-20s rather than their 40s to ensure better long-term financial stability. Family size will now also be a weighing factor; Augustine noted that a family of six requires different consideration than a single applicant to ensure true social equity.
On the economic front, Augustine issued a rallying call for Tobagonians to become owners rather than just employees in the tourism sector. He expressed a desire to see locals owning major hotel franchises and luxury brands, rather than limited to service roles like housekeeping or landscaping. He confirmed the existence of a dedicated investment unit to assess local proposals for public-private partnerships, encouraging Tobagonians to bid for major developments on state lands.
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