Gov’t committed to providing housing for J’cans
ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, said her administration is unwavering in its commitment to providing access to housing for Jamaicans.
She said the Government embraces the fact that housing is a social and economic right of every citizen and has prioritised access through inner-city renewal and low income housing projects, and the development of informal settlements.
“For my administration, the provision of land and housing is more than just about shelter. It is part and parcel of our deliberate policy to encourage an ownership society in Jamaica,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing Wednesday’s opening ceremony of the 24th meeting of ministers and high level authorities on housing and urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI), being staged at the Secrets Resorts in Montego Bay, St James.
Simpson Miller said she was looking forward to the deliberations among the delegates, under the chairmanship of Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Housing, Dr Morais Guy.
The prime minister said Jamaica is particularly pleased to be hosting the meeting, and commended the work of MINURVI in ensuring security of tenure, which she pointed out, is a fundamental right of the people in keeping with article 25 of the Declaration of Human Rights.
She added that “the Government supports MINURVI’s mission and agenda to develop progressive policies to advance the agenda for decent housing and human settlements. We see ownership as central to the empowerment of the people and that is what we in Jamaica are working to achieve”.
She noted that in confronting Jamaica’s housing challenges, “we continue to partner with international organisations such as the UN-HABITAT in order to improve the quality of life of our people through the provision of adequate housing, sustained by well planned urban development.”
The meeting, which ends on Friday is being attended by delegates from South America, Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean and observers from the Caribbean Development Bank, (CDB), Urban Development Commission of Barbados, Citizens Alliance and HABITAT-3.
