$1.4 Billion Spent on Sugar Barracks Relocation Programme

The Government has spent approximately $1.4 billion to construct 84 concrete houses in sugar dependent areas, under the Sugar Barracks Relocation Programme.

Former Field Supervisor at the Frome Estate in Westmoreland, Ercelyn Black, says the programme is a blessing.  Ms. Black, who worked on the estate for 20 years, is a recipient of a two bedroom unit in Barham, Westmoreland, where she now lives with five other family members.

“It is the most wonderful thing anyone could have done for us the sugar workers,” she told JIS News.

The programme is an initiative of the Sugar Transformation Unit (STU), which is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the European Union (EU).

The EU’s support for the programme is part of its wider commitment to the local sugar industry, through the Sugar Sector Budget Support Programme, which aims to assist in the economic diversification, social resilience, and environmental sustainability of sugar dependent areas.

Speaking with JIS News, Head of the STU, George Callaghan explains that the Sugar Barracks Relocation Project was undertaken to demolish houses that were built on sugar estates 30 to 40 years ago.

“It was agreed that we replace all the dilapidated houses with new ones on lands reserved during the divestment of the sugar industry. The intention is to build wholesome communities and remove the stigma associated with living in sugar barracks,” Mr. Callaghan says.

He points out that “we are not merely building houses we are also building modern communities with necessary infrastructures such as electricity, roads and water.”

The houses are one, two and three bedroom units. Thirty-nine have been built in Steelfield, Trelawny; while six have been built at Barham; 17 in Shewsberry; and 22 in Muesmore, all in Westmoreland.

The units are assigned based on family size and consist of bedrooms, bathrooms, dining, and living areas. The communities are supported by a modern bio-digester sewage system courtesy of the Scientific Research Council (SRC).

“When we conducted the survey to identify persons to be relocated, it was revealed that less than 50 per cent of the residents were not working on the sugar estates. But based on the fact that they were living there they were either descendants of sugar workers or were actual sugar workers on the estates. The decision was made that all of the persons living in the barracks would have to be relocated,” Mr. Callaghan explains.

He notes that the impact that these new housing units have had on the communities has been very significant.

“The quality of the residents lives has improved significantly compared to what they had before. Jobs have been created with the construction of the houses, so there isincreased inflows into the communities in terms of income and upliftment in social life of the persons living in these communities,” Mr. Callaghan explains.

Beneficiary Winnifred Jones, who worked at the Hampden Estate in Trelawny for over 36 years, expresses her gratitude to the Government.

Ms. Jones says that prior to the programme, owning a house was out of her reach. “I am so very glad that I now have a house to call my own,” she says in relief.

Ms Jones along with four other family members now live in a two bedroom unit in Steelfield, Trelawny.

“The Houses in terms of market value, cost $10 million each. Currently we are working with the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP), to prepare the titles and beneficiaries have made the commitment to make the payment for their title,” Mr. Callaghan says.

The relocation project, is expected to cost $2.4 billion, and construct a total of 397 housing units to benefit 876 sugar workers and their families. The only cost to beneficiaries is $30,000, and $40,000 for their titles.

The balance of 313 houses is now being built at Springfield, Clarendon; and Hampton Court and Stokes Hall in St. Thomas, for completion in December 2014, when the project ends.