Daily Black Immigrant News
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is warning that his government will not stand by and let crime and hoarding derail its plans to build 70,000 homes across the country over the next few years.
Holness also maintains that squatters can no longer be allowed to access and build illegally on public property.
The planned construction of 70,000 homes was one of the key campaign promises of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) heading into the 2020 General Election.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over 60 keys to new homeowners at Catherine Estates in Spanish Town, St Catherine on Friday, Holness said that while he understands the need for more housing developments in Jamaica, it was not right that meeting was held.
“There are some people that no matter how many houses you have, they believe in going and taking private land or public land and say it is theirs, and there are some who have the courage to say they don’t own the land. they have no title to the land, but they still sell the land,” he said.
He further said that there are some people who are even demanding that the government build roads to go to the illegally acquired lands.
“They want the government to put water there, and the government didn’t even know about it (the illegally acquired land) and they want title after spending all this money on building the land. It’s a real challenge,” said Holness.
To further explain the extent to which the squatters will go, the prime minister pointed to satellite surveys which showed a community in Saint Catherine where hoarding is widespread.
“… When we did the satellite survey, we see some massive structures rising; 50 times bigger than what is here (in Catherine Estates). None of those people have titles to the land!
“I am very clear when I say, ‘We will not allow you to grab and take public property!'” Holness warned.
Meanwhile, Holness said more Jamaicans are prioritizing it and he is proud to be delivering homes across the country.
Noting that demand exceeds the homes that are currently available in the country, he said this situation “has only served to fuel our determination to ensure that more Jamaicans can turn in their keys.”
The Prime Minister noted the Catherine Estate development in Spanish Town as one of the largest housing developments in St Catherine since Greater Portmore.
“It is expected to deliver over 1,600 affordable units to new first-time home owners upon completion,” Holness said.
NewsAmericasNow.com
