MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – The Government will be providing some 2,850 housing solutions for sugar workers in the parish of Westmoreland, with 861 to be completed this year.

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, made the announcement at a special press briefing on Thursday, at the Western Offices of the Prime Minister in Montego Bay.

Kellier said that of the houses to be delivered this year, 650 will be situated in Hertford/Morass; 85 in Shrewsbury; six in Braham; 70, Masemure; and 50 in Yeast Plant.

He pointed out that the Government recognises the need to transform sugar-dependent areas, and provide improved housing for estate workers and their families.

Under the Barracks Relocation Programme, which is being undertaken through grant funding from the European Union (EU), $298 million has been spent to re-house 84 families at Spicy Hill in Trelawny and Masemure, Shrewsbury and Barham in Westmoreland.

The Sugar Company of Jamaica Holding (SCJH) is undertaking a Housing Development and Community Regularization Programme across all six sugar estates in St Catherine, Clarendon, Westmoreland, St Thomas, and Trelawny and has established a Housing Project Unit to coordinate these activities, the Minister informed.      

The broad strategies being employed are: community regularisation that will affect over 10,000 families; joint venture housing project with private developers, providing over 6,000 homes; relocation of 2,640 families in nine communities; sale of lands for housing development; and joint venture agreement with the National Housing Trust (NHT).