Prime Minister Holness Launches Model Programme for Urban Renewal as Over 36 Homes are Handed Over at St. Paul’s Lane, St. Andrew
“We want to do this for every single inner-city community in Jamaica. This is my wish and my vision.”
– Prime Minister Holness
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness has handed over 36 modern housing units to residents of St. Paul’s Lane in West Central St. Andrew, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to uplift inner-city communities across Jamaica through urban renewal.
Prime Minister Holness said such dire conditions inspired the idea to launch a transformative urban renewal programme which will be used as a model to implement across the country. He announced that allocations for such projects will be included in the next national budget.
“We have proven that this model works. Now, we can move full speed ahead with developing other such communities across Jamaica, particularly within Kingston and St. Andrew… If we uplift the physical conditions under which people live, it will elevate their minds as well. This is the beginning of a larger effort to ensure that every Jamaican, regardless of their circumstances, has access to safe, decent, and comfortable housing,” the Prime Minister said.
The innovative housing development spans an acre and a half of land, accommodating 36 households with modern amenities, including a play area, parking, and a communal washing and drying space. The project also involved creative engineering solutions to connect the community to critical infrastructure such as the sewage main.
Dr. Holness highlighted the broader vision behind the project, and he noted that the project required close collaboration with residents, many of whom temporarily relocated while their homes were rebuilt.
“This physical transformation of the St. Paul’s Lane community will also lead to a transformation in the outlook, attitude, and behavior of the people who live here,” he stated. “We want to do this for every single inner-city community in Jamaica. This is my wish and my vision.”
The new homes were built to improve the living conditions of residents who occupied substandard houses in the Tower Hill community.
“This is a proud moment for me personally,” said Prime Minister Holness. “Today, just in time for Christmas, you will have your dream fulfilled of a better home. The people who will occupy these homes will find them far more comfortable than the homes they were living in before.”
Prime Minister Holness was speaking on Wednesday (December 11) at the Handing Over Ceremony for St. Paul’s Lane in St. Andrew.