Prospect residents delivered their letters of objection to the Department of Planning yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent responded to headlines yesterday about the concerns of residents, calling for calm and reaffirming Government?s dedication to affordable housing in Bermuda.

Residents gathered outside the Government Administration Building as an envelope containing all the letters was dropped inside at the Department of Planning.

It has been said that all but 12 of the 169 homes in the Prospect area have voiced their objections to the proposed building of low-rent housing units in their area.

Residents cited concerns about overcrowding and increased traffic.

Mr. DeVent said he appreciated the residents? concerns and they have the right to express themselves in a democratic country.

The problem of affordable housing is not unique to Bermuda, he said.

?What is unique is that we have the challenge of very little land mass and we have to look at ways of creating new homes without further encroachment on our delicate environmental balance.?

Mr. DeVent said he will be addressing the issue further during next week?s Budget Debate.

He appealed for calm and compromise as Government works to resolve housing challenges facing the community.

?I am hopeful that, as caring and reasonable Bermudians, we are able to reach a compromise that will benefit all of us and show that we are truly our brother?s keeper,? he said.