CH&PA summoning police in Region 6 scam

Dec 21, 2017 News

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is investigating an alleged scam in Region 6 involving the sale of lands by an individual not authorised to conduct business on behalf of the agency.

According to the authority yesterday, it has been brought to its attention that a woman purporting to represent the agency has scammed several persons in the Region of thousands of dollars.

“Last week two men visited our Regional Housing Office to enquire of lands they paid for, only to be told that the agency does not have any records of transacting business with them. The men related to housing officials at the Regional Office that they were approached by a woman claiming that she could have gotten lands for them through the agency at a reduced cost,” CH&PA said.

According to the authority, one of the men paid the woman $150,000 for three house lots with a balance of $180,000 for his children while another paid $70,000 with a balance of $60,000.

“Similar cases have been related to the housing office but individuals are unwilling to provide further information. The agency will be turning the matter over to the police; however, persons are asked to be on the alert for scammers,” CH&PA said.

According to the authority, all payments relating to the sale of land or housing units must be done at the agency’s Georgetown Head Office, Regional Housing Offices or Regional Democratic Council, if so advised.

The authority has been saddled with countless reports of these scams, with arrests made, but also numerous allegations surfacing of staffers being involved.

CH&PA has been battling to reduce the number of applications – said to be over 20,000 – for house lots and turn-key homes that it has on file.