Chang Tours Housing Sites in St. Mary

Several sites in St. Mary that could be developed for housing solutions were toured by Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, on July 31.
During the tour, the Minister also listened to the concerns of persons who have settled on the lands.
The sites visited are located in Frontier in Port Maria, Galina, Eden Park, Boscobel, Huddersfield and Three Hills. With the exception of Huddersfield, all the sites are Government owned, with informal settlers among the residents.
There is a plan afoot for Government to acquire the Huddersfield site and implement the necessary development for residential purposes.
At a press briefing after the tour, Dr. Chang said he wanted to take a comprehensive look at the country’s housing sector, in order to ensure that the proper requirements are in place for its development.
He pointed out that a technical assessment would be done of the sites visited, to determine their basic infrastructural needs, and that the Ministry would be working closely with the residents on the sites and their elected leadership in the community, to ensure that the decisions taken in respect of the development, are in their best interest.
Dr. Chang explained that there are many Jamaicans living in areas which are in need of proper infrastructure, adding that a way has to be found to fulfill the needs of those communities, whether by relocating the residents or assisting the communities to provide the amenities needed.
He stressed that the upgrading of informal settlements and the provision of housing solutions for persons in those areas, are critically important objectives for the country.
During the tour, Dr. Chang also addressed the eviction concerns of residents on the Frontier lands, assuring them that it was not Government’s intention to evict anyone, and emphasised that the administration’s objective, is to help people to provide housing solutions in places which are safe.
Accompanying the Minister on the tour were Member of Parliament for Western St. Mary, Robert Montague; Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Dr. Morais Guy; Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Housing, Jenefa Hibbert.