KINGSTON, Jamaica – Depositors in the long delayed Housing Agency of Jamaica’s (HAJ) Bernard Lodge project, may finally be able to access their new homes by the end of March, 2016.

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Omar Davies told the House of Representatives this afternoon that Cabinet has given the go ahead for the signing of a Public/Private Partnership Agreement (PPPA) with Herzog Jamaica Limited.

The project will be financed by Herzog’s parent company, Herzog Contracting Corporation.

Dr Davies said that the prices of the homes would be adjusted to a maximum of five per cent for each phase. He said that the Cabinet also approved the termination of a previous PPPA with Malphrus Incorporated, to provide affordable housing solutions at Bernard Lodge, St Catherine.

The project is will start within 14 days of the new agreement becoming effective, the minister said, and construction of the first 300-350 units of phase one will be completed by the end of the current financial year.

Balford Henry