KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Government says two concrete houses are to be built in each parish across the island for indigent persons at a cost of $52 million.

The process will begin in St Andrew, where sites have been identified in Irish Town and Kintyre, with St Thomas and Hanover to follow.

This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, during his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives today.

He explained that one of his strongest desires is to see indigent persons, outside of infirmary care, living in housing that promote dignity and modernity, and reflect an improvement over the traditional wooden structures.

The structures will feature, among other things, self-contained kitchens and bathrooms and proper ventilation for the occupants, he said.

Meanwhile, the minister said the Government is continuing work to improve the infrastructure of the country’s infirmaries, which now house 1,405 residents.