PM Lauds NHT for 30 Years of Quality Service

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson has lauded the National Housing Trust (NHT) for 30 years of quality service to Jamaica and has urged the institution to continue to be bold in exploring new ideas and finding ways to make Jamaicans, particularly low income earners, experience the pride of owning decent and comfortable living spaces.
“What began as a humble mission to provide housing for Jamaicans has grown into a larger mission to improve the quality of life for all our people,” he said.
In a speech read by NHT board member Errol Greene, at the Trust’s 30th anniversary service of thanksgiving held on March 19 at St. Paul’s United Church in St. James, the Prime Minister noted that the institution stood as a model of success for the public and private sectors and showed what could be achieved when funds were managed for a common good.
“It points to what can be achieved when employees are motivated to serve, when an organization commits itself to always satisfying the customer and when business partners can experience a sense of pride and ownership”, he pointed out.
He said that the church service, which was one of three held concurrently across the island, provided the opportunity to reflect on the NHT as an institution and also to give thanks for the successes that have made it a model institution.
He noted that the institution had faced numerous challenges over the years, which have strengthened its resolve to continue to provide innovative solutions for its contributors, and contributed to its success as the country’s leading mortgage financier.
“You have come a long way in 30 years. Today, you celebrate the triumphs, the victories, and the successes. Today, you celebrate the fact that thousands of Jamaicans are homeowners, that you’ve worked tirelessly to help hardworking Jamaicans own a piece of the rock, that you’ve found innovative ways to make homeownership more affordable and within reach of ordinary Jamaicans,” he stated.
The Prime Minister, who has portfolio responsibility for the NHT, further commended the Trust’s “dedicated professional staff, board of directors and its partners, both in the public and private sectors”.
“I challenge other players in the industry, notably commercial banks, building societies, credit unions, to help more Jamaicans achieve the dream of homeownership; encourage them to save and be thrifty,” he encouraged.