Additional 24 Indigent Housing Units Being Constructed

Some 24 additional homes are now being constructed under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s ongoing Indigent Housing Programme.

This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who spoke with journalists following a tour of the St. Ann’s Bay market in St. Ann on Tuesday (September 24).

“We are now waiting for some more funds so [that] we can roll out an additional 20 units that will take the amount that we’ll be doing in this financial year to about 50 units. So, we are pleased about that programme,” he stated.

The Programme is designed to address challenges experienced by the poor and most vulnerable citizens in acquiring homes.

Meanwhile, Mr. McKenzie advised that several houses have been constructed, which are slated to be handed over to beneficiaries.

“We have houses in St Thomas to be handed over [as well as in] Westmoreland and Clarendon,” Minister McKenzie said.

Potential programme beneficiaries must demonstrate ownership of the property on which the house is to be built or provide documentation that they are lawfully entitled to tenure on such.

During the tour of the St. Ann’s Bay market, Minister McKenzie announced that the Government will be disbursing some $15 million to the St. Ann Municipal Corporation for emergency repairs to the facility.

Mr. McKenzie was accompanied on the tour by Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis; Councillor for the St. Ann’s Bay Division, Dallas Dickenson; Chief Technical Director at the Ministry, Dwight Wilson, and Chief Engineering Officer at the St. Ann Municipal Corporation, Glenford Ricketts.