Government Commits to Improve Operations of HAJ

The Government is committed to improving the operations of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) Limited, which operates as a land and housing development company that provides shelter solutions for Jamaicans islandwide.

Its core services include providing shelter solutions on the open market and upgrading and regularising informal settlements.

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, says the agency is essential to creating a supportive framework to facilitate multiple pathways to homeownership for all Jamaicans.

Responding to questions from journalists at Wednesday’s (October 26) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Mr. Morgan said the Government’s primary objective has been to reduce the debt that the agency has incurred.

“The Government’s interest at this point is to run a proper HAJ. Since we have been in Government from 2016, we have reduced the debt from about $3.5 billion that the HAJ owed to the National

Housing Trust (NHT), and that is where the people’s titles were used as security. We have reduced that debt to about $500 million,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that the reduced debt burden will enable the agency to function effectively.

“In order for the HAJ to become properly viable and to fulfil its mandate, we have to remove that debt that it owes to NHT, and we have been very successful in doing that,” the Minister added.

He noted that the Government has been engaged in the process of completing unfinished development projects of the HAJ, as part of its remit to provide diverse housing solutions for Jamaicans.

The HAJ is owned by the Government of Jamaica. It falls under the portfolio of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC).