Groundbreaking Ceremony of East Palms Housing Development Relocation Project

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Yesterday, we broke ground on the East Palms Housing Development Relocation Project, a critical step in restoring hope and stability for families affected by the 2021 fire here in Kingston Central.

That tragic event displaced 13 residents, children and elderly among them. We have not forgotten their suffering, and today, we act.

This project falls under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), a key part of our HOPE initiative, which affirms that every Jamaican deserves safe, dignified shelter.

The East Palms development will include seven apartment-style units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom homes, built with reinforced concrete, modern infrastructure, and secure utilities. These units will move families out of unsafe, overcrowded tenement yards into formal, resilient housing.

Across Jamaica, the NSHP has already delivered 290 units in 57 constituencies, with 65 more projects set to begin this year. This is not talk. This is delivery.

Beneficiaries will sign agreements to protect the integrity of the programme. These homes cannot be sold or altered for 20 years without approval. This is a social contract, one of shared responsibility between Government and citizen.

The East Palms project is a symbol of national renewal. We are building Jamaica, community by community, home by home.