Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government has instituted robust checks and balances to ensure transparency and accountability in the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).
The NSHP is designed to provide housing solutions to Jamaica’s most vulnerable citizens.
Holness, who visited several communities in St James on Friday where five houses were handed over to needy residents meeting the programme’s requirements, said there is a legislative framework underpinning the NSHP, which highlights the role of the Ministry of Housing and the Housing Act.
“The Housing Act directs the Minister of Housing to hold and use lands in such a way as to provide housing, either commercially or socially, for persons who are in need. This legal mandate ensures that social housing initiatives are carried out with due diligence, requiring thorough assessments before benefits are distributed,” he explained.
Holness also addressed concerns regarding the programme’s adjudication process, pointing out that there is a system in place to assess the needs and the beneficiaries before any housing solution is provided, and reinforced the programme’s fairness and equity.
While acknowledging that the NSHP is not above or beyond being scrutinised, the prime minister said it is important that any findings should be accurate to avoid ambiguity or inadvertently tainting a programme through which excellent work is being done in providing homes for some of the society’s neediest.
He added that an inaccurate portrayal of the NSHP could create a misleading narrative suggesting that the programme is acting against the public’s interests.
Holness reiterated the Government’s commitment to maximising the best interests of the public through the NSHP, emphasising that the initiative is structured to comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
He asserted that the programme’s transparency is further enhanced by the establishment of comprehensive oversight mechanisms to prevent any form of impropriety.
Meanwhile, the prime minister remains optimistic about the future of the NSHP and its ability to transform the lives of citizens in need.
He said the mandate to provide social housing incorporates several entities of the State, pointing out that the Government will not falter on its commitment to ensure that as many Jamaicans as possible can have access to safe and adequate shelter.
Holness also underscored the importance of the Government’s ability to bolster public confidence in its housing initiatives, deemed critical to addressing the issue of homelessness impacting the society’s most vulnerable.
“We estimate that approximately 6,000 Jamaicans live in the… worst conditions. Every week, I am handing over up to five homes to Jamaicans in need as we get closer and closer to reaching the over 6,000 Jamaicans targetted for support. At the same time, we are ensuring continued effective management to be able to sustain these and [other] similar relief programmes,” he said.
Holness said he welcomed opportunities, “to provide detailed explanations on the policies and programmes that the Government is putting in place to make Jamaicans’ lives better”.
“I encourage you to seek out information to stay informed and learn what programmes are being implemented to improve your lives. We are able to implement life changing programmes like [the NSHP] because of the [Government’s] management of the economy, and the will to give real help to Jamaicans,” he added.
The five NSHP homes handed over in St. James on Friday were built in several communities, including Hendon, Somerton and Flankers.
