00:00For residents of Cashew Gardens, getting around the development has become a daily challenge.
00:07When you use ways, they show hazards. And the hazards they have here, all of the potholes are indicated on
00:17ways when you drive into Cashew Gardens.
00:20I've never seen that before. People actually take the time and identify the potholes so that other drivers could know
00:26this is what you have to put up with.
00:27This is madness. This is unfair. Again, this is more of the same. P&M, Eater Food Culture.
00:34Minister Philip Edward Alexander visited the HTC development as part of his ongoing assessment of housing communities
00:42and says the immediate focus will be getting the main boulevard into better condition.
00:48A rapid response team is expected to mobilize next week, creating a more direct mechanism for residents to report problems
00:57and have them addressed.
00:58We have created in the Housing Development Corporation a rapid response team led by Mr. Johnson.
01:05It is growing. We're adding to it. Mr. Showers is one of the most knowledgeable people in sewage and water
01:10management.
01:11So we've taken this to a place where residents of HTC projects could finally be treated like homeowners,
01:19that if you have a problem, there's somebody for you to call who will respond.
01:22But the roads are not the only concern. Residents have also been dealing with sewage-related problems,
01:29prompting the minister to outline steps aimed at improving the response and coordination between relevant agencies.
01:37I'm here with the rapid response team from the HTC and the first time in a long time,
01:43we have some good news that our team led by Mr. Showers has this sewage treatment facility fully functional.
01:51They're on the way through the rehabilitation process to have it ready to hand over to WASA
01:57so that WASA could step in and take responsibility for the water treatment up here at Cashew Gardens
02:03and free up a lot of these resources.
02:05Another issue raised during the visit is the vesting of the development,
02:09a process that determines which agency or authority is ultimately responsible for the infrastructure and related services.
02:18Alexander says this is among the wider issues being examined as his ministry works through problems affecting HTC communities.
02:27In Lakeview, the MP, Ernesto Queza, is working together with the HTC to create a management company for Lakeview
02:39to vest all of their responsibilities in their own management company.
02:44But the challenge is the land that is part of Heritage, I think it's Petrotron Heritage Company,
02:52that has the title to the land and they're working out getting the land transferred
02:57so it could be vested in that management company so that they could take responsibility and elevate.
03:02The minister is continuing visits to housing developments across the country,
03:07promising residents that their concerns will be addressed.
03:10For Cashew Gardens, residents will now be looking to see whether the promised response
03:15brings lasting improvements to the community.
