Informal Settlers in Westmoreland to get Serviced Lots

Cabinet has given approval for a special Benefit Order to allocate 30 serviced lots in the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) Mailersfield Housing Scheme, in Westmoreland, to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing.

Making the announcement at the Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, on March 14, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, explained that, “the Ministry will allocate these (housing solutions) to informal settlers who are to be relocated from Whitehall in Westmoreland."

She further outlined that the development is a joint venture between the NHT and a number of sugar related entities, and that persons would have been required to meet the qualification requirement under the NHT Act, that of making contributions for at least 52 weeks in order to benefit.

Minister Falconer noted, however, that at the time, just over 500 of the over 600 lots were secured by the sugar workers.

“So, what they are doing now, is re-allocating these,” she pointed out. Therefore, the 30 lots are from the remainder of the original 600 lots, she said.

By Alphea Saunders, JIS Reporter