Holness Warns Against Unreasonable Housing Promises

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is urging electors to be wary of housing promises that could lead to them trading proven solutions for dodgy pledges.

The prime minister says his administration has already exhausted every option to make housing more affordable.

More in this report from Shaloy Smikle.

With the general elections set to be called this year, the matter of housing remains a top selling point for both political parties.

During his contribution to the budget debate, Prime Minister Holness reminded the nation of his administration’s efforts to deliver affordable housing.

He also announced a raft of measures that will also be implemented this fiscal year. Chief among them is increasing the loan limit for a single National Housing Trust, NHT, contributor as well as lowering the deposit requirements for low-income earners.

Opposition leader, Mark Golding, also put forward several measures, which he says will dramatically increase access to affordable housing under his government.

This includes a $1 billion loan facility for young first-time buyers and a rent-to-own initiative through the Housing Trust.

But speaking at an NHT groundbreaking ceremony in Barrett Hall, St James, on Thursday, Dr. Holness urged electors to be cautious of unreasonable promises.

According to the prime minister, his administration has exhausted every possible measure and is delivering the ultimate, affordable housing solution.

The groundbreaking ceremony will see the construction of over 1,000 housing solutions.

Dr. Holness says the project is another indicator of the government’s proven solution to deliver houses to the average Jamaican.