Government strategically planning development, says Jamaica's PM

Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness says that providing housing solutions is a major part of his government's strategic plan to decisively deal with the issue of informal settlements.

While speaking at the National Housing Trust's (NHT) handing over ceremony for Castlewood at Granville, Trelawny, the Prime Minister said the Government is making every effort to provide housing solutions to foster greater development for Jamaica.

“All Jamaicans must come to the recognition that you can't settle wherever you choose,” said Holness. He explained that the government understands the need for housing and the historical challenges however the government has a no tolerance policy for unplanned developments.

“The Government has to get ahead of informal settlements and provide the solutions so that we can say to the people who have it in their mind to develop informal settlements, No! – We (The government) are building enough houses and we are providing the modalities - that is, the ways in which you can access the housing that are reasonable.”

In that regard, the Prime Minister reiterated the Government's commitment to giving everyone a fair chance of owning their own home and living in a secure environment.

“What we have tasked the NHT to do is not just to build more housing -- is to lead the development of planned housing solutions so that everyone can have a fair chance of not just owning their own home but living in a decent community where they can have access to potable water In their house, electricity legally connected in their house, taxis that will stop at their gate without fear, roads that are planned for – for which your property taxes that you pay will repair, garbage collection that will happen, routinely and on time,” explained Holness.

The prime minister also used the opportunity to underscore the government's road infrastructure plans.

“The Government of Jamaica is heavily invested in improving road conditions throughout Jamaica. The government will have to very soon shift focus to deal now with the other kinds of roads, the arterial roads, the roads leading into rural communities that have been neglected for years,” stated Holness.