The One Bermuda Alliance is entitled to its own opinions but it’s not entitled to its own facts.The recent Wedco housing development story about the construction of 100 new housing units in Dockyard illustrated just how easily people may be prone to being misled by the OBA.What some people believed to be OBA supporters said on radio and social media: This is just electioneering to announce a major housing project on the eve of an election.The facts: This development was first announced by Wedco more than eighteen months ago in October 2010. The delay, as reported by the Minister, was attributed largely to fully meeting Planning Department requirements.What the OBA said: Why is Government building 45 units in Dockyard?The facts: The Wedco will actually construct 100 housing units in two phases.What the OBA said: This will cost $36 million for 45 homes. That’s $800,000.00 each. Not value for money.The facts: It is projected to cost $36 million for 100 housing units.What the OBA said: This will cost too much on a per unit basis.The facts: Costs include architectural and planning fees, materials, construction, demolition of condemned units and an entirely new and complex community water and sewage infrastructure.What the OBA said: Save money and renovate the old units.The facts: The structural life-cycle of the old units has come to an end. The existing units have been professionally assessed. Many are riddled with termites, asbestos, severe water leaks, mould and have serious structural problems. Renovation costs exceed construction costs on a per unit basis when all other infrastructure needs are considered.What the OBA said: If the Government has to guarantee the loan, then it is taking on more debt. This will be $36 million on top of the more than $1.5 billion it already owes. Specifically, this comment came from the Shadow Minister of Finance.The facts: Firstly, the statutory debt limit is $1.45 billion (not $1.5b). That is the limit of the debt, not the actual debt. The estimated debt in the fiscal year 2012/13 is $1.407 billion (not $1.5b).Second, with effect from April 1 2011, any guarantees were no longer charged against the statutory debt ceiling unless the guarantee obligation becomes due and payable by the Government. It is not correct that the guarantee means Govt takes on “more debt” as alleged.This means that the $36 million required to complete this project is not automatically added to Government debt at all. That’s the law, not an opinion.What OBA candidate Ray Charlton said: Correia Construction has secured the contract.The facts: The Chairman of Wedco, the Hon. Walter Lister confirmed that the pre-engineered, precast modular system had been sourced from a US supplier. That’s the materials component, not the construction component.Minister Weeks confirmed just last week that the demolition project, construction project and all of the necessary sub-trade work had not yet gone out to tender, but will.The general manager of Wedco, Andrew Dias, who is not a political figure, has also confirmed that no contracts have been awarded yet, but will be. He anticipated that 100 or more jobs would be involved in this project. So, there you have it.Just in the course of several days, on one housing issue alone, a combination of misinformation on one side and information on another. The Progressive Labour Party believes in providing suitable, affordable housing for the Dockyard families who have long suffered in the rundown, UK-barrack designed homes, built over 140 years ago which have severe structural problems and need to be torn down.We support improving the basic living conditions of those who haven’t had the financial flexibility that many others who read this story may have had. We understand that improving living conditions is linked with regenerating communities. We understand the importance of providing opportunities for families who have lived in Dockyard for generations, to remain there, if that is their wish.The OBA is entitled to its own opinions. But, it shouldn’t mislead voters. And our friends in the media have an obligation to call them out when they mislead. I do hope that they will fulfill this obligation in the future.Sen Jonathan Smith is the Progressive Labour Party candidate for Warwick West