ST JAMES, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for St James North West, Dr Horace Chang has announced plans for an estimated $100 million infrastructural project earmarked for the Sammy Bush section of Glendevon in his constituency.

This will be in addition to the development of some 166 housing lots for sale in the Providence area, also in his constituency.

Accompanied by a team of technical officers from the Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister and national security minister, toured both parcels of lands which are owned by the Ministry of Housing late last week.

Dr Chang explained that the aim is to put in the necessary infrastructure in the Providence site during this financial year with the intent to construct housing units and prepare lots for sale.

“It’s right in the centre of Montego Bay, near to the airport and to other facilities that require access to jobs, hotels, etcetera is quite easy. So we expect to have a good development there,” Dr Chang said.

Noting that while the project for the Providence property was not yet on the budget, he hopes there is funding in the General Housing Fund that could be redirected there “so we can move quickly to formalise”.

“Lack of formalising of course leaves the opportunity for individuals to just settle informally. And when you settle informally, you know all the spin offs and problem we have with that. We are at this point fairly stable in the constituency. We have a zone of special operation quite nearby, and we have had a time of relative peace, therefore offering the opportunity for us to stabilise the entire community,” Chang said.

He also explained plans to offer the informal settlers on the plot of land in the Sammy Bush first preference to buy the lots they occupy, then make the other “30 or 40 lots available for sale to the wider public”.

Dr Chang underscored the importance for occupiers and the government to formalise settlements.

“What is critical is to begin the process of really formally providing the titles, infrastructure support and utilities so that the individuals can realise the value of the assets up here. Indeed, the country will realise the value of the assets because they’re beginning to pay taxes, and they will begin to spend money in the financial sector, whether it is NHT (National Housing Trust) or whether it is just commercial banks or credit unions. They are fairly well established. So, the spin off in terms of added value to the economy will be significant,” the deputy prime minister argued.