Holness highlights dangers of informal settlements

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has cautioned against the establishment of informal settlements, noting that they restrict the country's future growth.

Speaking during the ceremony to break ground for the Galina Housing Development in St Mary on Friday, Holness emphasised that unregulated land settlement limits the future potential of infrastructure development.

"When persons settle in communities irregularly, they are not planning where the road should go. They are not planning where the sewage should go [nor] how garbage will be collected. Oftentimes, they squat on land that is strategic because, in the future, that's where the main highway should go... that's where a school should be located," Holness said. He added that this, in turn, raises the cost of infrastructure for the government, as land that should have been reserved for the public good has instead been captured.

Additionally, Holness pointed out that residents occupying illegally obtained lands often live in discomfort, unable to legally access basic services such as water and garbage collection. He stressed that the "culture of informality" poses a challenge, explaining that the cost of regularising an informal community is far greater than building it formally from the outset. He noted the structural supply challenges in the housing market, which have created a housing deficit across the country. To address the housing needs across different market segments, Holness reaffirmed the Government's commitment to delivering 150,000 housing solutions.

The Galina Housing Development will provide approximately 360 housing solutions on 72 acres of land in St Mary, strategically located near the towns of Galina, Port Maria, and Oracabessa. These will include serviced lots with minimum sizes of 3,000 square feet, as well as one- and two-bedroom detached homes. The National Housing Trust has partnered with Henan Fifth Construction Group Jamaica Limited to execute the project.