Groundbreaking In St Catherine for Housing Development

The ground was broken in St Catherine on June 17, to make way for the building of affordable housing for Jamaicans. Prime Minister Andrew Holness who was present at the undertaking says the plan has been 10 years in the making and has now come to fruition.

“It’s not a political ploy. It is something I genuinely believe in. Every Jamaican must have the opportunity to own their own home.”

The housing units supplied by the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) and China Harbour Engineering company will start at 5-point 5 or 6 point 5 million and will allow occupants to add additional rooms.

“We are going to do our part with the NHT. I don’t know if I can do anything more with the NHT. I already cut the interest rate very low. I have already given the intergenerational mortgage so your children can carry part of the mortgage burden in order to own the property.”

Known as Catherine Estates housing development, it borders three constituencies – St Catherine South-Central where Dr Andrew Wheatley is the M.P, St Catherine South where Fitz Jackson is the M.P and East Central St Catherine with Alando Terrelonge.

When the project was announced in 2013, potential homeowners had bought into the project and paid down funds. Those persons will still be allowed to purchase homes at the price listed back then.