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Agencies of Water and Housing Ministry Playing Critical Roles in Reconstruction Effort

September 25, 2004

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The Ministry of Water and Housing, through its agencies, has been playing a very critical role in Jamaica’s reconstruction efforts, following the passage of Hurricane Ivan, Minister Donald Buchanan has said.
Speaking with JIS News, the Water and Housing Minister made particular mention of the National Water Commission (NWC), which has already restored water supply to over 80 per cent of the country.
With respect to the housing side of his portfolio, the Minister outlined the invaluable contribution of the National Housing Trust (NHT) which, in addition to granting a three-month moratorium to mortgagors, has made available $1 billion for building societies to on-lend to persons whose homes were damaged by the hurricane.
“The National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) is also working with all of their projects across the island.113 projects, and our Provident Societies, to alleviate whatever problems have arisen with respect to those projects, and I expect by the end of this week [to receive] a full report from the NHDC on what has been done, and what is further required with respect to the Operation Pride projects,” added Mr. Buchanan.
Officials in the Housing section of the Ministry have also been working with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in the identification and evaluation process, which have been taking place islandwide.
“We now await the results of those islandwide surveys to make a determination as to exactly how we proceed to the reconstruction stage, which we will be doing in collaboration with the Office of National Reconstruction and other Ministries,” he told JIS News.
Meanwhile, Minister Buchanan met with two of his colleagues, Dean Peart, Minister of Land and Environment and Horace Dalley, Minister of Labour and Social Security on Wednesday, September 22 to discuss the way forward. Recommendations will be made to Cabinet soon.

Last Updated: September 25, 2004

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