Work to Resume on Bernard Lodge Housing Project

Work is scheduled to resume shortly on the provision of affordable housing solutions at Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine.

The development follows Cabinet’s approval of a public/private partnership (PPPA) between the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) and Herzog Jamaica Limited to complete the development.

Transport, Works and Housing Minister, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, made the disclosure during Tuesday’s (June 30) sitting of the House of Representatives.

He informed that Cabinet approved the Ministry’s request to reconfigure the project and engage in negotiations with Herzog to design, finance and construct the development, after the previous agreement with Malphrus “had broken down.”

Work will get underway within 14 days of the effective date of the PPPA, and construction of the approximately 300-350 units in phase one will be completed by the end of the current fiscal year.

Dr. Davies informed that the sale agreements with the remaining depositors will be honoured at the originally stated prices, with a five per cent escalation.

Dr. Davies said the new PPPA with Herzog will see the HAJ realising some US$4 million, less 50 per cent of the value of the assessed value of work previously performed by Malphrus.

“Herzog has agreed to share the cost of the value of the work done by Malphrus as assessed by an agreed independent third party quantity surveyor,” Dr. Davies informed.

At the termination of the agreement with Malphrus, the status of works done on the project include: excavation of two ponds to facilitate storm water management; scribing of 100 per cent of the road; construction of two model units; installation of security fencing for the site office, and a storage tank; and provision of security services to protect the model unit and site office.