Youngsters living in Kingston Western believe the housing units that will be constructed in Denham Town and Rasta City soon will supply the under-served and stereotyped communities with a breath of fresh air.

Speaking at a church service, on Sunday, May 29, at the City Mission Pentecostal Church in Denham Town, in honour of late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said contracts have been tendered for the housing units.

Anisheka Crosdale, chapter chair of West Kingston Young Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer that she believes the units will add to the development of the communities.

“There are some parts of the communities where the housing structure is up to par and there are no board houses in some sections. It’s just buildings and concrete houses. And when you look at somewhere like Rasta City, I think it’s one of the only sections in the community that is still how it was in probably the 1990s or whatever time back then,” she said.

“So, this will get them on the same level that the rest of the communities are at, and giving someone a new house to live in, it does a lot for them as it relates to mindset. It will add to the attractiveness of the place socially and also physically. I think persons will feel safer. It will come off as a safer environment,” Crosdale continued.

More importantly, she said, it should change the mindset of the youth who think they live in the ghetto.

“The ghetto is not a place, but ghetto is a mindset. That’s what I always tell myself. So, I think that it should. I think it should change their mindsets because at the end of the day, when people look at ghetto, they think about zinc houses and standpipe and all of that. But when they look and see that they are getting a development; something looking like the structures at Caribbean Estate or Union Estate, there may be a difference with the people.”

The first development, dubbed ‘Victoria Villa”, will be sited adjacent to St Alban’s Primary School.

Holness said Seaga’s vision was to uplift the community by improving housing and other civil infrastructure; also [the] quality of life by improving the social infrastructure of schools, nurseries, community centres, health centres, parks and markets.

Shacquille Henry, community youth leader, told the Sunday Observer that every community welcomes any new infrastructural development.

“With the Victoria Villa housing development, the community will have a rebranded look and it will bring hope to us as residents, to remind us that we are not forgotten and that our pleas for new housing solutions have not gone unanswered,” he said.

“I am expecting us as residents to care for and protect our new homes so that it may serve generations to come. The development is a move in the positive direction by the current Government and I am looking forward to the housing development project of Rasta City in Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town. I always say to myself that where you come from doesn’t define who you are or dictate where you will end up in life.”

Henry added that with the new housing development, “People will see that hope is still in Jamaica and, it will encourage young people to become homeowners. Additionally, it will in a way beautify the community and create a new atmosphere which is needed to bring about change.

“However, a programme specially implemented by the Government is needed to ensure that after this development, the youths are actively engaged to enhance the social welfare of youths in the community because its people who make the community.”

Diego Moulton, community league football organiser in Tivoli Gardens, agreed.

“I think this upgrade will change their mindset, of course. I can tell most of the people are anticipating the start of the work, especially a part where we call PWD or Rasta City. I think the people there want it more so they can be more comfortable based on the condition their houses in now,” he said.

“Most of the houses there are made out of board, and there are times when the people would go to the councillor to get information on when the construction scheme will start. So, they’re very anxious and desperately waiting.”

Roshawn Ward, who completed Sixth Form at Tivoli Gardens High School, said the construction of the new units may make way for proper running of electricity and water pipelines in different sections of the community as well.

“It will make the community become more attractive, and there are people who don’t have electricity for months or maybe years. And they could say the same for water. So, this new housing will definitely improve the way of life,” he told the Sunday Observer. “And this will give youths the mindset to go out and work because now they have something to work towards and maintain.”

Jevonnie Codlin, football coach at Denham Town High School told the Sunday Observer that though he thinks the units will add to the development of the communties “to an extent,”, there is still a need for greater interest and focus on inner-city youth to keep them engaged.

“We have quiet a few houses in the Rasta City area where housing infrastructure is not the best. Heavy rains causes the zinc to leak et cetera. A proper and stable house is pertinent but I still think we should focus on how we go about with our youth. We as Jamaicans emphasise alot and say the youths are the future, but what are we doing to ensure they have a better future?” he lamented.

Codlin said with the units, “The communities are still the same, the residents are the same, and the environment will be the same. Therefore, our vicinity will still classified as ghetto. I am elated that the residents of the respective communities in Denham Town and Tivoli will indeed have better houses, but I hope there will be more programmes to expose our youth to life outside of the ghetto.”