NHDC to spend $10M on Hanover projects
WESTERN BUREAU — The National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) is to carry out infrastructural work at the Bulls Bay and Fisherman’s Village Schemes in Hanover, at a cost of $10 million.
Work is expected to begin within another two months.
The schemes, which fall under the government’s Operation Pride programme, were handed over to the more than 230 beneficiaries in July of last year.
Lots in both schemes were priced at an average cost of $110,000, each with an average size of about 430 square metres
Managing Director at the NHDC, Milverton Reynolds, told the Observer that infrastructural work would include the upgrading of the water supply, electricity, drainage and the provision of access to lots.
Last week, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor/caretaker for the Lucea Division of the Hanover Parish Council, Audley Gilpin, called on Land and Housing minister, Donald Buchanan, to immediately address the lack of infrastructure in the schemes.
According to Gilpin, the infrastructure at the Fisherman’s Village and Bulls Bay Schemes, which are located in his division, are all in a poor state and in need of urgent attention.
The condition of the projects are all common. They all have bad roads, ineffective water supply and lighting,” Gilpin told the Observer.
He pointed out that the drains in the Fisherman’s Village Scheme are clogged as a result of poor maintenance, and are now a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The councillor/caretaker argued that if urgent attention is not given to the drains, an epidemic could break out in the area very soon.
He added that in the Bulls Bay Scheme, the electrical power lines are in a state of disarray and could result in the electrocution of residents.
Residents in the Bulls Bay Scheme have also complained about the lack of piped water and poor road conditions in the area.
They claim that representatives from the NHDC have visited the communities on several occasions and promised to address the situation, but so far nothing has been done.
But on Thursday, Reynolds said that the delay in carrying out the necessary infrastructural work was due, mainly, to outstanding engineering designs.
“We are now in the process of finalising engineering designs for both projects to ensure proper implementation,” he told the Observer.
Reynolds also cited the unavailability of funds as another factor that has contributed to the delay.
He pointed out that the policy of the NHDC is to tie expenditure to receipts from beneficiaries, and in the case of Bulls Bay and Fisherman’s Village, payments are behind.
The extent of the work to be done and the speed at which it can be implemented is therefore directly related to beneficiaries meeting their obligations,” Reynolds explained.
As of May 31, 2003 collections at the Bulls Bay Scheme stood at roughly $250,000 and about $1 million for Fisherman’s Village.
But expenditure for work carried out at Bulls Bay was almost $1.5 million, while roughly $1.7 million has been spent at Fisherman’s Village.
Against this background the NHDC is appealing to beneficiaries to honour their obligations with the institution.
We are therefore appealing to the beneficiaries to come in and make their payments and for those who are paying to continue,” Reynolds pleaded.