Housing Ministry to Sell 1,218 Parcels of Land This Year

The Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing will this year intensify its thrust to market some 1,218 greenfield solutions, which are valued at close to $861 million.

Making the announcement in his 2013/14 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, May 21, Minister without Portfolio, with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, noted that 174 requests for divestment were approved last fiscal year, with a combined value of $88 million.

Some 225 sale agreements were prepared and 100 fully settled accounts became eligible to receive their titles.

The solutions, which were on the market for divestment include: Fair Mountain, Malvern, in St. Elizabeth; Vanzie Lands, Trelawny; Albion Mews Phase I, St. James; and McKessey Lands, St. Catherine.

Greenfield areas are agricultural or forest lands, or other types of undeveloped lands, which are allotted for industrial projects, or commercial use.

In the meantime, the Ministry is taking steps to redevelop government tenements, which have fallen into disrepair, under its Urban Renewal Programme.

Dr. Guy said the objective is to improve and generate low income solutions and provide security of ownership.

Work has begun in Albion tenements in St. James, where 30 units have been built at a cost of $63 million. Now in phase II, another 18 units are being built at a cost of $47 million.

Dr. Guy pointed out that the Ministry has also undertaken significant infrastructure developments in a number of schemes including: the completion of major emergency works, inclusive of three foot bridges and gabion works in Glendevon, St. James at a cost of $74 million; and corrective drainage works at a cost of $5.5 million in Charlemont, St. Catherine.

Additionally, maintenance work has been carried out on the sewerage system in the Kennedy Grove Housing Scheme in Clarendon, and work is set to begin on corrective work on that system.

Dr. Guy further informed that with approval from the Portmore Municipality, the Ministry intends to complete the construction of an administrative building at a cost of $2.2 million, at the Portmore Community College.

Contact: Alphea Saunders