No Let Up in NHT Housing Provisions
By: February 22, 2013 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- She was responding to questions at a Jamaica House press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, February 21.
- She noted that on Wednesday, February 20, the Trust presented keys for 918 housing solutions at Longville Park in Clarendon. Approximately 882 families will benefit from the scheme, which was built at a cost of $4.8 billion.
The Full Story
Managing Director of the National Housing Trust (NHT), Cecile Watson, says that there will be no reduction in the number of schemes developed by the Trust, even while it contributes $11 billion per year to the national purse.
She was responding to questions at a Jamaica House press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, February 21.
She noted that on Wednesday, February 20, the Trust presented keys for 918 housing solutions at Longville Park in Clarendon. Approximately 882 families will benefit from the scheme, which was built at a cost of $4.8 billion.
She also said Hellshire phase four in St. Catherine will come on stream in August with 250 solutions, as well as another 250 solutions in Perth, Manchester to be launched next month. Overall, the NHT is committed to the completion of another 10 schemes.
“The intention is to shift the benefit down to the lower income earners, so that they become more affordable. We don’t want to be building houses that persons cannot afford,” Mrs. Watson explained.
The NHT will be contributing $44 billion over a four-year period to help with the country’s debt management. The move is critical in securing a funding agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Trust’s Managing Director said there will be a deliberate thrust to ensure that the agency remains viable over the period.
She added that as part of this focus, the Trust will be modifying its business plan to ensure the shoring up of surplus.