Jamaica Committed To Programme of MINURVI

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Mrs. Audrey Sewell, says Jamaica is committed to the plans and programmes being pursued by the Ministers and High Level Authorities on Housing and Urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI).

Addressing the opening ceremony for the 24^th meeting of the group at Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay, St. James, on August 27, Mrs. Sewell said Jamaica has been supporting  MINURVI from as far back as 1996 when the 6^th meeting was held in the island.

“Jamaica also hosted a meeting in 2009, and since then the country has been elected to the MINURVI Executive Committee as a focal point for the Caribbean  sub-region on several occasions and continues to play an integral role in the process through our consistent support and contribution,” she said.

Mrs. Sewell said Jamaica should  reap significant benefits from hosting the meeting,  particularly as it relates to policy trends and development, the sharing of best practices in human settlements development and the exchange of experiences and information.

“There is also an opportunity for the strengthening of regional housing networks, which augurs well for collaboration in the region,”  she added.

Mrs. Sewell encouraged participants at the meeting to ensure that they forge partnerships and collaborate with the various groups in the region to share the findings coming from their deliberations, in order to ensure that other countries benefit.

The MINURVI meeting, which ends today (August 28), is being attended by delegates from South America, Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean and observers from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Urban Development Commission of Barbados,  Citizens Alliance and HABITAT-3.

The  meeting is  chaired by Minister with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy.