Earl Samuels

Dear Editor,

Allow me the opportunity to respond to a letter written by immediate past president of the Jamaican Institute of Architects, Mr Clifton Yap, in the Daily Observer in April.

In response to Mr Yap's questions about the NHT's decision to finance the drafting of developmental plans for major urban areas, I wish to point out that ever since its establishment, the NHT has been developing its housing schemes around existing social facilities. In almost every instance, some social and other critical facilities have become over-used and inadequate. The situation has not been helped by the haphazard development of many other structures around our urban centres. As a result, many NHT beneficiaries who live in communities developed by the Trust, do not have access to adequate and proper social amenities.

Clifton Yap

It is against this background that the NHT has decided to provide financial assistance to planning authorities throughout the country to assist in the drafting of developmental plans for the major urban centres in Jamaica. The NHT, contrary to Mr Yap's assertion, will not in any way be involved in the actual drafting of plans or the development of urban areas. This will be the responsibility of the local urban planners with which the Trust has been in consultation.

The benefits of this undertaking will be twofold. Not only will existing NHT beneficiaries benefit from improved facilities, but a more orderly framework for development will be in place and will thereby reduce the development costs of future NHT housing schemes.

Even as the NHT is striving to make life better for existing and future beneficiaries, the Trust is well aware that there is a limit to how much pressure the currently limited social infrastructure in the nation's urban areas can take. As a result, the Trust has had to look at new ways of providing its contributors with housing while at the same time creating the sort of social and economic environment that NHT beneficiaries deserve.

The Clarendon Newtown concept was conceived to address this situation. This development will allow the NHT to continue with its core function which is to create affordable housing solutions for its contributors while at the same time, make provision for the relevant entities to play a part in the development of a self-sufficient and successful community.

There can be no question that there exists in Jamaica today a great demand for affordable housing solutions. The NHT considers this to be reason enough to embark on the development of more houses for its contributors. In coming up with the New Town concept, the organisation has gone a step further and has put in place the infrastructure that will allow for the establishment of all the necessary facilities that a successful community must have.

What is important to note is that contrary to what might be believed, the NHT's funds will only be used for what it was originally intended -- the creation of affordable housing benefits. The Trust will not in any way be involved in the building of commercial or governmental infrastructure. Instead, parcels of land within New Town will be reserved for development by private and government entities. Mr Yap should be aware that this is how such developments have taken place in both developed and developing economies with measurable success. All of this will be in an effort to create the total community for our contributors.

Contrary to claims made by Mr Yap, let me state that the NHT represented by board chairman, Kingsley Thomas, has been in consultation with a wide cross-section of interest groups long before the launch of the international design competition. From as far back as February 2000, consultations have been taking place and they are set to continue for the duration of the project.

From a developmental point of view, the proposed New Town in Clarendon is ideally located. All of Jamaica's major physical plans, from as far back as 1965, identify the area from Old Harbour to May Pen, including Inverness, as the growth area for population settlements in Jamaica. Through the development of New Town, the NHT intends to integrate the diverse housing development projects that have been mushrooming in the area.

Environmentally, this will be one of the most well-thought-out housing developments ever undertaken in Jamaica. The aim of the New Town Clarendon development in providing an alternative to the sprawl of the Kingston Metropolitan Area is to limit environmental deterioration, reduce the loss of agricultural lands to housing and reverse the erosion of society's natural and built heritage as one interrelated community-building challenge.

The NHT is proud to be able to undertake the planning for the development of Clarendon New Town. This promises to be one of the most innovative and successful townships ever to be developed in Jamaica. In the same breath, the National Housing Trust will not be distracted in its efforts and will continue to engage in those activities which will not only provide better facilities to our contributors, but which aim to improve the quality of life of the majority of Jamaicans.

Earl Samuels

Managing Director

National Housing Trust

Kingston 5

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