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The Government will be moving to improve social conditions in communities such as Kingston Central utilising the Housing Act, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. Speaking at the handover of a three-bedroom social housing unit, on Tower Street, in Kingston Central, on January 25, the Prime Minister said the area is one of the oldest residential communities in the island, with many of the houses built over 70 years ago. He added that the houses are deteriorating, and a transformation programme is being worked on for such communities. Mr. Holness said it is challenging to embark on the upgrading programme, because of ownership issues, where people have abandoned lands in the areas, owners cannot be located, and in some cases, persons have taken them over and “are using them for criminal activities”. “We will intervene. We are working on a programme that will use power under the Housing Act to get these lands that are now abandoned and unutilised,” he said, noting that the conditions in such communities cause people not to feel good about their surroundings, so the Government will be improving the infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister reported that since the recent imposition of a State of Emergency (SOE) in Central Kingston, the murder rate and other violent crime rates have dropped, and residents are pleased for the “reprieve that they are able to enjoy”. Mr. Holness said he is satisfied that the State can assist in the provision of improved dwellings under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) for “those living under terrible conditions”. (more) Social conditions…2 For his part, Member of Parliament for Kingston Central, Donovan Williams, said he is giving priority to the improvement of the housing stock in the constituency, and described the NSHP as a “wonderful programme”. In the meantime, beneficiary of the housing unit, Keisha Hind, whose previous dwelling was destroyed by fire in 2012, said the $7 million unit is “a life changing gesture”. “I want you to know that what you have given us is not just a structure but pride of joy and a sense of belonging,” she added. The NSHP, established by the Prime Minister in 2018, operates under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment Programme (HOPE), through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The initiative aims to improve the housing conditions of Jamaica
The Government will be moving to improve social conditions in communities such as Kingston Central utilising the Housing Act, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. Speaking at the handover of a three-bedroom social housing unit, on Tower Street, in Kingston Central, on January 25, the Prime Minister said the area is one of the oldest residential communities in the island, with many of the houses built over 70 years ago. He added that the houses are deteriorating, and a transformation programme is being worked on for such communities. Mr. Holness said it is challenging to embark on the upgrading programme, because of ownership issues, where people have abandoned lands in the areas, owners cannot be located, and in some cases, persons have taken them over and “are using them for criminal activities”. “We will intervene. We are working on a programme that will use power under the Housing Act to get these lands that are now abandoned and unutilised,” he said, noting that the conditions in such communities cause people not to feel good about their surroundings, so the Government will be improving the infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister reported that since the recent imposition of a State of Emergency (SOE) in Central Kingston, the murder rate and other violent crime rates have dropped, and residents are pleased for the “reprieve that they are able to enjoy”. Mr. Holness said he is satisfied that the State can assist in the provision of improved dwellings under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) for “those living under terrible conditions”. (more) Social conditions…2 For his part, Member of Parliament for Kingston Central, Donovan Williams, said he is giving priority to the improvement of the housing stock in the constituency, and described the NSHP as a “wonderful programme”. In the meantime, beneficiary of the housing unit, Keisha Hind, whose previous dwelling was destroyed by fire in 2012, said the $7 million unit is “a life changing gesture”. “I want you to know that what you have given us is not just a structure but pride of joy and a sense of belonging,” she added. The NSHP, established by the Prime Minister in 2018, operates under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment Programme (HOPE), through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The initiative aims to improve the housing conditions of Jamaica's most needy citizens. It consists of three modalities – provision of indigent housing, which will see 315 housing units (five per constituency) constructed per annum; relocation of vulnerable communities, which will give priority to persons in imminent danger; and the upgrading of tenement yards (one per constituency).

Social Conditions In Communities to be Improved Utilising Housing Act – PM

The Government will be moving to improve social conditions in communities such as Kingston Central utilising the Housing Act, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. Speaking at the handover of a three-bedroom social housing unit, on Tower Street,...
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (centre, front); National Coordinator, Governor-General Programme for Excellence (GGPE), Abrahim Simmonds (left, front) and Secretary General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) National Commission, Everton Hannam (right, front), share with winners in the inaugural Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Essay Competition, at the awards ceremony held on January 25 at King’s House.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (centre, front); National Coordinator, Governor-General Programme for Excellence (GGPE), Abrahim Simmonds (left, front) and Secretary General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) National Commission, Everton Hannam (right, front), share with winners in the inaugural Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Essay Competition, at the awards ceremony held on January 25 at King’s House.

Winners of ‘I Belive’ Media and Information Literacy Essay Competition Awarded
Director General at the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Peter Thompson.
Director General at the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Peter Thompson.

JACRA Wants More Certified Coffee Testers
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., leads a discussion at the 18th Jamaica Stock Exchange Investment and Capital Markets Conference, on January 25, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., leads a discussion at the 18th Jamaica Stock Exchange Investment and Capital Markets Conference, on January 25, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Greater Enforcement and Monitoring to Tackle Overfishing
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) hands over the keys to a newly built three-bedroom house to beneficiary, Judith Noble (second left), during a ribbon cutting ceremony held in Callaloo Mews on January 25. The unit was built under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) at a cost of approximately $5.4 million. Others looking on (from left) are Chairperson, Oversight Committee, NSHP, Judith Robb Walters and Member of Parliament, St. Andrew Western, Anthony Hylton.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) hands over the keys to a newly built three-bedroom house to beneficiary, Judith Noble (second left), during a ribbon cutting ceremony held in Callaloo Mews on January 25. The unit was built under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) at a cost of approximately $5.4 million. Others looking on (from left) are Chairperson, Oversight Committee, NSHP, Judith Robb Walters and Member of Parliament, St. Andrew Western, Anthony Hylton.

PHOTOS: PM Hands Over House in Callaloo Mews

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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) cuts the ribbon to officially hand over a new three-bedroom house in Rosemary Castle, St. Catherine to Moveta Clarke (second left) on Wednesday (Jan. 25). The house was constructed at a cost of $6.5 million under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). Sharing the moment (from left) are Chairperson for the Oversight Committee, NSHP, Judith Robb Walters, and Member of Parliament, St. Catherine East Central, Hon. Alando Terrelonge.
HousingPrime Minister

Stroke Survivor Gets New Home

Tears streamed down Moveta Clarke’s cheeks as she prepared to receive the keys to her new home in Rosemary Castle, St. Catherine, from Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness on Wednesday (Jan. 25). The tears were a tangible expression of the joy, relief and gratitude she felt at finally having safe shelter for her family, which includes her 21-year...
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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, delivering a Financial Sector Regulation Policy Address at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in downtown Kingston, on Monday (January 23).
Finance & Public Service

Gov’t Pursuing Twin Peaks Regulatory Model for Financial Sector

The Government is pursuing the creation of a “twin peaks model” of financial sector supervision and regulation, which is being programmed for implementation within 18 to 24 months. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, who made the disclosure, said that the model is intended to modify the existing sector-by-sector-based regulatory approach, which sees the...
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Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, delivers a Statement in the House of Representatives on January 24, on the establishment of the Constitutional Reform Committee.
Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Every Change in Consitutional Reform Will Be Disclosed – Minister

Every change to be pursued during the Constitutional reform process will be fully disclosed and worked on collaboratively, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, has informed. She said this will be done with the assistance of the Constitutional Reform Committee, guided by research, consultations and expert advice. The Minister was delivering a Statement in the House...
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Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), Richard Byles, addresses the 18th Jamacia Stock Exchange (JSE) Investment and Capital Markets Conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on Wednesday (January 25).
Finance & Public Service

BOJ Equipped for Enlarged Role – Byles

Central Bank Governor, Richard Byles, says the bank has the competence to take on its enlarged role, which involves regulating non-bank financial entities alongside deposit-taking institutions (DTI). “At the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), we accept that charge that we have to prepare to supervise the entire financial sector. We do so now for DTIs, and so we are quite adept...
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Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), converses with Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, during a forum on Tuesday (January 24), at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew.
Health & Wellness

Gov’t Strengthens Healthcare Delivery at Three Hospitals

The Government has taken steps to strengthen healthcare delivery at three hospitals that provide care for newborns, including measures to ensure greater compliance with the recommended standards for staffing and infection prevention and control. The measures were highlighted by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, at a forum on Tuesday (January 24), to share the main...
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