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Minister of State in the Ministry of Water and Housing, Hon. Everald Warmington, said Tuesday (August 11) that Jamaica is grateful to be selected for the implementation of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme's (UN-HABITAT) Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme(PSUP). Mr. Warmington pointed out that under the PSUP, Governments and Local Authorities are guaranteed assistance, with the adaptation of innovative policy...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is urging all Jamaicans to conserve on their use of water, as the country continues to experience a dry period. Corporate Public Relations Manager at the NWC, Charles Buchanan, says conservation is important, because it provides more water for use by everyone, especially in periods of drought. "It is most helpful to the NWC's desire...

As drought conditions worsen across the island, Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang is asking users of water, including developers and members of the public, to conserve water, pay their bills, and protect the infrastructure put in place to deliver the liquid to the population. "We are asking members of the public to conserve water as much...

Eleven new housing units and three commercial structures costing $15.8 million have been delivered to beneficiaries in Andrew Court, Olympic Gardens by the Ministry of Water and Housing. The one-bedroom units were constructed at the corner of Holts Road and Olympic Way, to replace board shacks in which the residents were living. "You have a house with enough space so...

Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, toured three housing projects in Kingston and St. Andrew with a delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) UK Branch on Friday (July 31). The Minister was accompanied to one of the sites, Hagley Park Road, by Opposition Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Peter Phillips (East Central St. Andrew),...

Member of Parliament (MP) for North West St. Ann, Othneil Lawrence, has said that significant work is being undertaken to improve the supply of potable water to several communities in the constituency. In making his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 28), Mr. Lawrence outlined several projects, which he said, are at...

The Ministry of Water and Housing will be pursuing discussions with Free Form Factory Limited, local manufacturers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) concre-panels, with a view to utilising the material in the development of affordable housing solutions in Jamaica. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, made the announcement when he and technical persons from the Ministry recently toured the factory located...

The Parottee water supply system, in St. Elizabeth, is to be upgraded at a cost of over $285 million. This was announced by Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, after touring the Parottee replacement well site, on July 24. According to the Minister, the National Water Commission (NWC) has engaged the services of Jamaica Wells and Services...

Minister of Water and Housing, Honourable Dr. Horace Chang, says that in order to meet the needs of the country, the Government is ensuring that housing developments cover different social groups. "In all of our efforts to build larger housing estates, we don't intend to just look at one socio-economic grouping, all Jamaicans are ambitious, and we want to create...

More Jamaicans will be provided with the opportunity to own their own homes, as the Government moves to ensure greater access to housing solutions by National Housing Trust (NHT) contributors in the lower income groups. According to Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, some 60 per cent of NHT contributors are unable to access housing, because their income level at...

Effective August 1, 2009, the Water Resources Authority (WRA) will be implementing a new fee structure for the application and granting of licences or consent (permits) to extract water. The new fee will be $45,000, including $15,000 for the application and $30,000 for the licence or consent (permit). The current cost to the WRA to process the application and permit...

Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, has pointed out that financing social housing has been a "perennial problem" for governments worldwide, and is becoming even more challenging as countries grapple with the present global economic crisis. Addressing the 18th Assembly of Ministers and Lead Authorities of Housing and Urban Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI),...