1,200-Unit Housing Project for Negril

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says ground will be broken shortly for a 1,200-unit housing development in Negril, Westmoreland, which will target tourism workers.

“We expect this project to be completed by 2020 and (that) the people of Westmoreland will benefit significantly,” he said.

He noted that Negril is “expanding beyond everyone’s wildest expectations” and the Government has to put measures in place to meet the huge demand for housing.

“Negril is just bursting at the seams,” he noted.

“We have to figure out now how we plan for that expansion, so you don’t have irregular settlements becoming a constraint for the growth of the town,” he added.

Mr. Holness was speaking on Friday (March 24) at the ground-breaking ceremony for the development of 61 serviced lots by the National Housing Trust (NHT) in Shrewsbury in the parish, at a cost of $119 million.

The Prime Minister travelled to Yeast Plant in Frome as well, where the NHT also broke ground for 51 serviced lots at a cost of $127 million.

The Prime Minister noted that the Government, through the NHT, is on a mission to build houses so that dreams can be realised.

“The Government understands the need for housing and will be working very hard to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake. We are not being partisan, selective or partial. We are just here to build houses,” he pointed out.

The Prime Minister said that there is no better investment that anyone can make than in the acquisition of their own home.

“The sacrifices you make today will be for your family’s future tomorrow. You would be surprised to know how much can be saved and put towards a mortgage if only some of the frivolous things can be discarded,” he noted.

The Prime Minister said that by raising the personal income tax threshold to $1.5 million “what we have been doing as a Government is to give the people the option to have more money in their pockets to make better consumption decisions for their long-term benefits”.