Gov’t Investing $15 Billion on Community Renewal

A sum of $15 billion will be earmarked over the next three years to enhance communities with limited infrastructure.

This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 21.

He said that the programme will be undertaken through the Housing Agency of Jamaica and will focus on the renewal and redevelopment of small inner-city communities.

It will replicate the St. Paul’s Lane Development Project model in St. Andrew.

The Prime Minister informed that the St. Paul’s Lane project, which is approximately 90 per cent complete, comprises 24 units to benefit families whose houses were devastated by fire.

It is being undertaken as a pilot, to see the extent to which it can be widely applied to address the issue of informal settlement in Jamaica.

“In short order, the families will benefit from this… . It is almost like a strata development… . We have learned quite a bit from doing this project. We have learned how to get the community mobilised, what to do in terms of decanting the persons,” the Prime Minister said.