Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has defended his Government’s extension of legislation to draw down a further $57 billion from the National Housing Trust (NHT) for budget support, arguing that this will not impair the state agency’s ability to deliver benefits to contributors.

Holness, who was speaking at the handing over ceremony for service lots for Malvern Housing Development in St Elizabeth on Thursday, said even as NHT’s funds are being used for the national budget, the trust has rolled out a multibillion-dollar post-hurricane relief programme.

“There is a lot of talk about the NHT and the NHT being deprived of resources by virtue of the Government, extending legislation to have fiscal support for the budget from the NHT … . The Government does not take the funds from the NHT lightly. We understand what the resources are dedicated for, and were we not in a situation that required it, the Government would not have done it,” said Holness.