Ex-housing official charged

(CNS): The former deputy chair of the National Housing Development Trust has been charged with three counts of obtaining money by deception, one of attempting to obtain money by deception, four counts of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception and one count of attempting to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception. It is almost seven months since Edlin Myles (60) was arrested under the anti-corruption law in connection with fraud relating to the government’s affordable housing project in East End. Myles is accused of manipulating his former position on the board to sell insurance to applicants who applied to buy homes on the East End site.

Myles, who was charged on Monday 11 June, has been released on police bail pending his court appearance, which is expected to be next week.

The RCIPS launched the investigation into allegations of misconduct within the National Housing Development Trust after complaints were filed about Myles. He was originally arrested at his home in George Town in October 2011 under sections 13 and 17 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2010 for breach of trust and abuse of public office, as well as suspicion of obtaining property by deception.

At the time of his arrest Myles was one of only three remaining members of the NHDT board after several resignations.

Meanwhile, the community affairs ministry, under which the NHDT falls, is planning to break ground on a new affordable housing site in Bodden Town on Thursday at Lake Destiny Drive, near the police station, where officials say twenty new government houses will be built.

Mike Adam, the community affairs minister, UDP backbencher Ellio Solomon and Rayal Bodden, the new Chairman of the Trust, are expected to be at the groundbreaking event.