PNP Demands Resignation of NHT Director Over Controversial Housing Deal

According to the report, the National Housing Trust (NHT) and Dexim Holdings joined forces in a multibillion-dollar contract that was supposed to make housing dreams come true for the people of Jamaica. Instead, it turned out to be a beautiful disaster.

The agreement signed in August 2019 and extended to August 2022, the document aimed to bring 200 shiny new houses to the people, with NHT advancing a whopping $650 million. According to the report, Dexim Holdings failed to deliver the houses as promised.

During the ‘multibillion-dollar contract failure,’ an NDA was signed. Martin Miller of NHT and the private housing developer, Dexim Holdings agreed to play ‘I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours’ with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

The opposition Peoples National Party (PNP) are questioning the legality of a NDA concerning the NHT, a public body managing public fund and a private firm. According to the PNP, Martin Miller, the managing director of the National Housing Trust (NHT) have no legal framework of making secret deals with a private firm, using public money.

Senator Floyd Morris, opposition spokesperson on housing and sustainable living, Wednesday morning demanded that Miller step down, calling the arrangement with Dexim Holdings “botched”.

“We believe that what has taken place in this sweetheart deal constitutes a breach of transparency, accountability and good governance,” Morris said during a press conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, In a settlement agreement dated November 29, 2023, the parties agreed to surrender the 2019 deal, meaning that the NHT would no longer buy Dexim’s houses.

In return, the NHT would reclaim the $650 million that was secured by a bond with a local bank.

The Sunday Gleaner brought the issue to light in a series of stories from January 14.

Morris questioned why the NHT departed from its stated policy under the guaranteed purchase programme, whether due diligence was done on the inspection of the property earmarked for the development and the existence of a non-disclosure agreement in NHT’s settlement with Dexim Holdings as a public body managing public funds.

Additionally, he questioned whether the NHT board was made aware of the settlement and whether Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the portfolio minister, was aware of the non-disclosure agreement.

NHT has maintained that the non-disclosure is consistent with the process of mediation and is a requirement of the rules of court.

“We are calling for the managing director of the NHT, who is one of the signatories to the NDA, to resign for this botched arrangement with Dexim Holdings,” said Morris.

Jamaica Gleaner

There should never be a signed NDA when it comes to public funds. Any agreement that involves public fund and especially with an entity such as the National Housing Trust which was created to assist low income Jamaicans to be able to afford their own homes, should not be part of any secret deals whereby the management of the NHT cannot inform the public on the uses of the fund.
NDAs cannot be used to prevent the disclosure of information that is in the public interest.