The Ministry of Human Settlements’ report that only 44 percent of last year’s housing starts were completed should come as no surprise at all. A great many of the uncompleted structures are obviously in the Carmona complex (and other compounds planned around the same reasoning) -- a "kubeta" is constructed (this qualifies as a "housing start"!) with the expectation that it will be the "core structure" around which a "Benitez bungalow" will be built. As we know only too well, there have been no takers.

CARLOS ALFARO