PM Hands Over 32 Serviced Lots in Kitson Town, St. Catherine

Contributors to the National Housing Trust (NHT) have received 34 serviced lots at the Cherry Gardens Housing Development in Kitson Town, St. Catherine.

The development marked another milestone in the Government’s ongoing push to expand access to affordable housing and forms part of a wider development of 193 lots under a partnership between the NHT and private developers through the Interim Finance Programme.

Forty-seven lots have already been handed over in earlier phases.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, described the occasion as a deeply meaningful one, noting that each lot represents more than just landownership.

He emphasised that the parcels are tangible assets that place real economic power into the hands of ordinary Jamaicans, enabling them to build homes and create generational wealth.

Dr. Holness also underscored the national importance of the development, positioning it as part of a broader strategy to promote structured and sustainable community growth.

He pointed out that the Cherry Gardens development was carefully selected due to its strategic location along the St. John’s main road, providing critical connectivity between Spanish Town and Kitson Town.

The Prime Minister further highlighted that the development is integrated into a network of both established and emerging communities, including Green Acres and St. John Heights.

He noted that this deliberate planning ensures that the new housing scheme will not exist in isolation but will instead contribute to a cohesive and expanding residential corridor.

Equally important, Dr. Holness said, is the supporting infrastructure that accompanies the development.

The lots are outfitted with paved roads, proper drainage systems, potable water networks, electricity, and designated green and recreational spaces, features he described as essential for building functional and livable communities.

He explained that the Government’s housing policy goes beyond simply increasing the number of available units.

Instead, the focus is on delivering well-planned developments that can sustain long-term social and economic activity, with the Interim Finance Programme playing a critical role in achieving that objective.

Under the programme, the NHT provides developers with financing of up to 100 per cent of construction costs at concessionary interest rates.

However, developers are required to pass on these benefits to purchasers through reduced prices, ensuring affordability remains central.

As a result, the lots at Cherry Gardens are priced between approximately $3.1 million and $6.4 million, making them accessible to many first-time landowners.

Dr. Holness also pointed to the inclusive nature of the initiative, noting that more than half of the beneficiaries are women, while a significant number fall within the lower-income bracket, with 40 per cent qualifying for mortgages at zero per cent interest.

The Prime Minister said that expanding access to land and housing is not only a matter of fairness, but also a critical driver of economic growth, stability and national development.