Opposition Spokesman on Housing and Sustainable Living, Senator Dr Floyd Morris has defended the record of the People’s National Party (PNP) on providing housing solutions for Jamaicans.

He has also defended the controversial Operation PRIDE programme that was established by former Prime Minister PJ Patterson in 1994.

Morris, launched the defence of the PNP during his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday.

He acknowledged that over the years, various political administrations have implemented diverse housing projects to improve the living conditions of Jamaicans.

However, Morris focused his presentation on a “sample of projects implemented by PNP administrations”.

“Let us never forget that it was the Rt. Excellent Norman Manley (PNP founder) in the 1950s that introduced the first set of housing schemes in the island. Mona, Hope Pastures and Harbour View are among these seminal achievements,” said Morris.

“Thousands of Jamaicans owned their homes through this housing initiative. Indeed, these housing developments triggered the establishment of a new middle class in Jamaica,” he added.

Continuing, he said: “In the 1970s, the venerable and indefatigable Most Honourable Michael Manley triggered the housing transformation in Jamaica. This was led by the creation of the National Housing Trust in 1976. Between 1976 and 1980 alone, over 40,000 housing units were delivered to Jamaicans through the NHT. The era of the thatch houses and the wattle and daub was coming to an end, thanks to the visionary housing policies of Michael Manley”.

The Opposition Senator noted that the NHT has indicated that it has built over 110,000 during its 45-year existence.

Morris then mounted a stout defence of the Programme for Resettlement, Integrated Development Enterprise, more popularly known as Operation PRIDE, the brainchild of Patterson.

The programme has come under criticism by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government in recent weeks with JLP Members of Parliament stating that billions of dollars are unaccounted for over 20 years later, with many housing solutions not delivered.

But, according to Morris, “Patterson embarked on one of the most commendable and comprehensive initiatives to deal with the historical injustices of slavery.

He listed some of PRIDE’s objectives as:

– the resolution of the shelter needs of most low-income Jamaicans through the establishment of newly-planned settlements and the upgrading of existing settlements;

– the improvement of environmental and public health conditions in settlements throughout the country;

– the mobilisation of resources in the informal sector towards their own improvement, employment creation and national development.

According to Morris, Operation PRIDE delivered over 58,000 titles and certificates of possession to ordinary Jamaicans across the island.

Said Morris: “We can proudly say Pines of Karachi, developed by PJ. Wentworth in St Mary, developed by PJ. Mount Edgecombe in St Ann, developed by PJ. Luana in St Elizabeth, developed by PJ. Melrose Mews in Manchester, developed by PJ. Langston apartment in St. Andrew, developed by PJ”.

“We make absolutely no apologies about the Operation PRIDE developments,” Morris added, while acknowledging that there were problems with the programme.

“I say emphatically, yes,” he said about whether there were problems.

As to whether there were qestionable decisions, Morris said “probably”.

“However, Operation PRIDE brought significant benefits to thousands of Jamaicans who would not have received the chance to own a piece of this rock. We in the PNP create opportunities for the small man to gain access to and be included in the society by implementing initiatives such as Operation PRIDE,” Morris insisted.

And, in a swipe at the JLP administration he said “We don’t take prime agricultural lands and give it to the already real rich to farm and then they take it to want to build houses. We don’t take agricultural lands and give to the rich and bulldoze the small man house. And Mr. President, we don’t take prime land and give to individuals for projects like Spring Plains and then they end up producing other things.