McKenzie Launches Defence of Gov’t Housing Programmes

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, is hitting back at critics of the government’s housing programmes.

He was speaking on Sunday at the Jamaica Labour Party’s, JLP, Area Council One meeting at Holy Family Primary School in central Kingston.

Last week, Minister McKenzie sought to clarify the differences between the New Social Housing Programme, NSHP, and the Indigent Housing Programme. His comments follow criticisms by the auditor general.

According to the auditor general, the New Social Housing Programme is a duplication of already existing government facilities.

Shadow Minister on Local Government, Natalie Neita Garvey, also expressed concern about the qualifying criteria under the housing programmes.

In response, the government says all houses under the NSHP are constructed on lands provided by the beneficiaries. This, it says, is a requirement for receiving a social house under the NSHP.

It says housing units provided under the NSHP are fully owned by the beneficiaries, not the government. However, it says houses under the Indigent Housing Programme are built on government lands.

Minister McKenzie urged JLP supporters not to be swayed by the criticisms.

Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development.