2,500 Additional Houses Being Built for Tourism Workers

A total of 2,500 houses, currently being built for local tourism workers, will be completed in the next five years.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, made the disclosure as he opened the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 18).

“That is not to conflate what currently is happening with the National Housing Trust (NHT) programme where Estuary, for example, is doing 3,000 houses, of which the tourism workers in St. James and Hanover can benefit directly,” Mr. Bartlett said.

He also highlighted the Rhyne Park Estates Programme, which comprises 784 units now being completed.

Mr. Bartlett further indicated that the NHT has a programme to develop 1,286 units in Barrett Hall, which will shortly come on stream.

“I’m very proud to say that in the discussions that I’m having – Hard Rock [Hotel] – 1,000 hotel worker houses are projected for Grange Pen. Palladium – we were there last week with them; they have an investment expansion programme to build 1,000 more rooms in Hanover, and they are building 650 houses at Point in Hanover, for the workers of the industry,” the Minister said.

He informed that Princess Resorts is doing 500 dormitories to provide accommodation for workers.

“What we’re saying is that this Government is not just talking about inclusion; this Government is including the workers of the industry,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bartlett said the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Ministry, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), are currently in discussion regarding providing houses to tourism workers utilising the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) model.

“The JHTA and ourselves are now fine-tuning a model similar to the Prime Minister’s social housing model where we, from TEF, will put [up] $100 million and they will match it to make sure that we can have 20 houses for workers of the industry every year, for the next five years,” Mr. Bartlett said.

“So, the workers will not have to pay for it. They are in a position of need. We know the need, we recognise the difficulty, and, from their own companies, they will be selected. So, no politics will be involved in it,” he added.