St Bess Resident is Latest NSHP Beneficiary

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness handed over a housing unit under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Rose Hall, St. Elizabeth on Wednesday (February 23).

The two-bedroom unit presented to beneficiary Kaycia Powell, was constructed at a cost of $4.1 million and includes a bathroom, kitchen and living area.

Mr. Holness, in his address at the ceremony, stated that if persons are living in substandard conditions, it reflects poorly on all citizens.

“It is in the interest of the entire society to help everyone attain this minimum level of shelter, so we don’t want people to be living in substandard, inhumane conditions,” he said.

He noted that the government is building out the capacity of the NSHP to rapidly increase the number of housing units for needy citizens.

“We can do 150 per year, we want to get to the point where we are doing 300, then 500, then 1000 per year, but even at that level, it is going to take a decade to truly deal with some of the problems,” he said.

The PM added that there are private sector companies that have indicated that they want to assist, and that would greatly increase the number of units that can be built annually.

He also encouraged persons who have lands that can be used as part of the programme, to contact the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) which spearheads the programme.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Franklyn Witter, who is also the Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth Southeastern noted that the NSHP is a great initiative.

He thanked the Prime Minister for spearheading the programme and encouraged residents who are in need and want to benefit from the initiative, to apply.

Beneficiary Ms. Powell in an interview with JIS News, noted that she was excited to receive her new home.

“I am so grateful for it because where I lived wasn’t mine and I needed somewhere for me and my son. I didn’t just want the house, I needed the house, so I am so glad…I just got the key and I feel so blessed,” Ms. Powell said.

Ms. Powell thanked the Prime Minister and all stakeholders involved in ensuring she received her home.

As of February 21, a total of 51 housing units (127 rooms) have been completed under the NSHP, across 28 constituencies benefitting over 320 individuals.

The NSHP falls under the Housing Opportunity Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC).

Earlier that day, the Prime Minister also handed over two three-sbedroom social housing units to beneficiaries in the Barbary Hall and Flagaman communities in the parish, which were constructed a cost of $ 5.5 million and $5.2 million respectively.