The public cannot believe the PLP's promises to provide affordable housing when similar promises have been made and broken so many times before, Shadow Housing Minister Wayne Furbert said yesterday.

Responding to Government accusations that the UBP Government built just seven housing units between 1989 and 1998, Mr. Furbert claimed the closure of the baselands opened up hundreds of housing units which were then made available to Bermudians ? meaning the pressure was not on the UBP to build more.

The PLP Government, on the other hand, has promised time and time again to deliver affordable housing units, he said. "How can I believe you ? you have let me down so many times before."

The first PLP Housing Minister, Nelson Bascome, said work on a multi-storey housing development on Union Street was set to begin in 1999, with financing already in place. "Where is it?" Mr. Furbert wondered.

The second Minister, Col. David Burch, said in 2000 that Government was planning a major building programme, with plans to be ready shortly for public discussion. "How can I believe?"

The third Minister, Terry Lister, said Government in 2003 that Government was to build 200 homes over the next four years ? leading Mr. Furbert to question where the homes due to be completed by now are, and where and when the remainder will be built.

Mr. Lister also promised that funding for housing would be increased in 2004, Mr. Furbert said ? noting that in the 2004/05 Budget (like in the previous year's Budget) the money allocated to housing was zero.

In fact, in seven years, the PLP has allocated less than one million dollars to housing, he said. Government did allocate a one-off $1.2 million of "bridge money" towards housing for the homeless in last year's Budget ? however, Mr. Furbert noted, no housing for the homeless has emerged.

Mr. DeVent is the fourth PLP Housing Minister, and "I kinda believe this Minister," Mr. Furbert said.

"After seven years, somebody should end up doing something, even if by accident," he explained.

Yet, once again, the Budget indicated that no money had gone towards housing, he said. Though the Finance Ministry had indicated the BHC was getting private backing from HSBC, Mr. Furbert questioned why Government did not just give the quango $15-20 million and let them get on with it. As for a grant to the BHC the Minister wanted the Opposition to approve, Mr. Furbert queried how he could when the BHC financial statements were not to be tabled until the end of the Budget debate.

In last year's Budget Mr. DeVent said he had a "holistic" plan "in his head", Mr. Furbert said. This year, however, showed "positive development, and we appreciate that".

Nevertheless, he questioned whether or not the BHC has recovered the significant funds lost in the wake of scandals plaguing the quango, and expressed "real concerns" about the Bermuda Homes for People Harbourside development in Southside.

He called on the Premier and the Minister to continue to ensure that, despite what realtors had said, the market-price homes at Harbourside are made available only to first-time home-buyers.

He also questioned why the $36 million of assets given to the Bermuda Homes for People (mainly in the form of waterfront property at Southside) were given to a developer with no money, and an overseer who picked the Board (before Board members chose him to oversee the project).

As for rent increases at the Bermuda Housing Trust, Mr. Furbert called on Government to once again link rents to incomes.

"You have forgotten where you come from," he told Government yesterday.