BOSCOBEL, St Mary — After repeated flooding and protests from residents regarding the many inconveniences caused, the housing development at the Hills of Boscobel is at the finishing stages and the many issues which residents faced have been addressed, the Ministry of Housing has said.

“We have sought to ensure that the issues which created the demonstrations … which created the dissatisfaction, (they) have been attended to and have been attended to (in order) to meet all the requirements of the regulatory agencies,” Dr Omar Davies, minister of transport, works and housing, told persons attending the Boscobel Keys and Titles ceremony last Thursday.

Several buyers of lots and units in the development received their keys and titles at the ceremony held on the scheme on Thursday. The development, which overlooks the Ian Fleming Airport and the sea, was managed by the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ).

“We have not sought to short-change, we have deliberately gone through and delivered a quality project,” Dr Davies told homeowners.

He assured them that the infrastructure will be provided as required by the regulatory agencies.

“I urge those who have benefited to treasure this asset and build on this asset, make this community one that is exemplary, not just in St Mary but throughout the country,” Dr Davies encouraged the new home and lot owners.

Over 50 of the 99 two-bedroom detached units in the new housing development have already been sold, with almost 100 per cent of the 150 lots already bought.  

While some are owning their homes in time for Christmas and are celebrating that achievement, Dr Davies pointed out that there are challenges with regard to housing in Jamaica; one of which he said is the availability of land. Dr Davies further stated that the availability of housing to those at the bottom of the income ladder needs to be addressed.

He said that he will be charging the HAJ to think of ways to use the available assets to address some of the issues now faced.

“When I look at the challenges we face, particularly for the low income groups, one of the possible solutions and one which we are going to be working on is how can we utilise the available assets which would be, on the one hand, the land from the Government of Jamaica and whatever support we can get from financial institutions to respond to these real needs.

“It’s a challenging situation but it is not one from which we can resign. If we don’t seek to address the housing needs of those at the bottom of the income ladder, they will address these needs themselves. You don’t have to theorise about it — you see it,” he added.

Dr Davies said that informal settlements brought about challenges such as unplanned development and environmental issues.

“We have to systematically seek to identify these areas we call informal settlements and determine how in certain instances we can put in the necessary infrastructure and raise the living standards to a more orderly process,” he stated.

He, however, reiterated that it will require cooperation from those who will benefit. Dr Davies said that one of the challenges now faced is the notion held by many that the Government will be in a position to provide land, infrastructure and the actual building without a charge.

“Let us get this out of our minds,” he insisted.

He said that while communities can be assessed to determine how the state can put up some assets which it owns, some form of payment has to be involved.

Dr Davies argued that one of the mistakes made in the past was committing units without knowledge of financing and he believes that it is the reason for many unfinished developments in Jamaica.

He said that his ministry will be seeking to find some of these unfinished housing developments and, with contribution from both the government and persons in the settlements, aim to complete them.

He, however, pointed out that the Government cannot be involved in development which threatens the environment or which violates regulations.