Jamaicans hear the despairing cry, “Nuttin nah gwaan fi wi,” or something akin to that from our poorest people, far too often for comfort.

That’s one reason we feel uplifted by two news stories in yesterday’s edition of this newspaper.

The first outlines the handover of houses and apartments as part of a National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative in impoverished Majesty Gardens in the St Andrew South Western constituency of Dr Angela Brown Burke.

The second story describes a ground-breaking ceremony for a new recreational park in Maverley on a run-down open lot previously used for all manner of informal activities.

In Majesty Gardens, subsidies are allowing residents to gain ownership of 24 studio apartments, four one-bedroom units, and two one-storey, three-bedroom units at affordable mortgages. In addition, three housing units were allocated to families unable to afford a mortgage under the New Social Housing Programme.

We are told that the latest handover completes Phase One of the Majesty Gardens Housing Development. Back in 2013, a total of 48 such houses and apartments were completed and handed over as part of the initiative.

We note the pride of achievement in the words of young mortgagor — identified only as Derval — who has succeeded in earning a house by dint of hard work. “I could choose anything else. I could have stolen, I could have robbed but I chose not to…” he tells us. And also, that just like everywhere else, “good people” live in Majesty Gardens. “I have been living here for 31 years and I can tell you that,” he said.

Inadequate resources constitute a major hurdle, but Jamaica needs many more such social initiatives as we crave a gentler, more peaceful society.

In relation to the Majesty Gardens project, we believe it’s useful to point to the important symbolism of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, head of a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government, and Dr Brown Burke, Opposition Member of Parliament, amiably sharing handover duties in a PNP-dominated community, traditionally viewed as a political garrison.

It’s surely a signal that, for all the tribal politics and disunity still so prevalent in everyday discourse, there is real cause for optimism.

The prime minister was also central to our second ‘feel good’ story — the ground-breaking for the planned park in the constituency of Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke.

This newspaper believes the value of green spaces, play areas, and relaxation spots provided by parks such as this one planned for Maverley can’t be overstated. Experts often point to the sense of peace and tranquillity flowing from the predominance of trees and grass in any given space — serving as an antidote to violent inclinations.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie tells us the project is part of a community renewal programme started in 2016. Eleven parks have already been done and there are 16 still to come, Mr McKenzie says.

The prime minister made a critical point regarding the need for safety and security in all such spaces.

Said Mr Holness: “If you go to Emancipation Park [in New Kingston] it is constantly filled… but the park itself does not mean that people will come. The park has to be, first and foremost, safe. My directive… is that there must be arrangements for safety…”

We applaud. Ultimately, peace begets peace.