Cabinet Approves Compulsory Acquisition of Lands for Housing

Cabinet on Tuesday (April 13) approved the compulsory acquisition of lands in Kingston and St. James for the provision of additional housing solutions for Jamaicans.
In Kingston, property located on Spanish Town Road will be obtained for the construction of 216 housing units by the National Housing Trust (NHT) as part of its Inner City Housing Project. The Commissioner of Lands has valued the property at $750,000.
In addition, Cabinet endorsed a proposal brought by the Ministry of Water and Housing to facilitate the compulsory acquisition of properties in St. James by the NHT for the relocation of residents from the Railway Lane/Barracks Road area to the Providence Housing Development.
The agency has advised that the 320 units are near completion and the relocation exercise will commence shortly. It is therefore necessary for the Ministry and the NHT to negotiate and acquire the properties in Railway Lane/ Barracks Road with a degree of urgency.
Meanwhile, Cabinet also gave approval for the purchase of land adjoining the May Day High School in Clarendon for the provision of a playfield for the students.
The land is privately owned but the school has used it as a playing area over the years and the intent is to purchase the property to preserve the students’ recreational area. The property is valued at $3.5 million.