SCOTT’S PASS, Clarendon — The budget for Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ brainchild, the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), will be increased in the next fiscal year. Holness made the announcement Wednesday during the handover of a $5.6-million house to Clarendon resident Fitzroy Edwards.

“What we have done so far is that we have allocated half-a-billion Jamaican dollars to treat with this every year. It is not enough. Ideally, we would like to allocate three or four times that amount in order to truly make an impact on people who are living in substandard housing. However, given the demand on the budget, this is the best we can do at this time. We intend to increase the amount in the coming financial year so more people can get,” the prime minister said.

Launched in 2018, the NSHP operates under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme, through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Its mandate is to improve the housing condition of Jamaica’s neediest citizens.

However, the Opposition has been harshly critical of the NSHP, labelling it as Government propaganda aimed at swaying voters. It has also questioned the fairness of the process used to select beneficiaries and distribute the houses. There have also been concerns raised, by the Opposition, about the quality of the structures being built and handed over.

However, the Government has consistently defended the programme and Holness himself usually stresses at each ceremony that the process is fair and impartial.

During Wednesday’s handover to 52-year-old Edwards in Scott’s Pass, Clarendon, the prime minster once again hammered home that point and emphasised that the overarching goal is to ensure that there is equity within the housing sector.

“The intention of government policy is to ensure that every strata of the Jamaican society is able to access housing. So it shouldn’t matter what your level of income is; it shouldn’t matter what your social status is; it shouldn’t matter what endowments you have — meaning what assets you start life with. Every Jamaican should have an opportunity to access housing solutions — shelter solutions — that are affordable and of a particular standard,” he said.

“Once the people in the community are of that view that the taxpayers’ resources were not used in a partisan way, was not used in a biased way, and was used to assist someone everyone agrees is genuinely in need, then that is what is considered to be an equitable use of the resources and a fair use of the resources,” Holness added.

A thrilled Edwards, who will celebrate his 53rd birthday on Saturday, sees his new house as a birthday gift from the State.

“I feel very comfortable today at this time. It’s a early birthday… I feel very good,” he told the Jamaica Observer during the ceremony held in Berrydale District. He is happy that he will no longer have to live in the dilapidated structure that has done a poor job of sheltering him for the last 52 years. Edwards raised his five children there but has no qualms about leaving it behind. He was all smiles as he received keys to his new three-bedroom unit.

For community resident Nickeisha Davis, seeing Edwards’ good fortune has lifted her spirits.

“I’m elated to see someone being given such a charitable and beneficial gift. It is something that gives us a ray of hope in a world that is filled with crisis. It allows us to know that Christ still gives good gifts and He makes the difference in everything,” she told the Observer.