PM Holness breaks ground for East Palms housing development in Kingston

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness on Wednesday broke ground for the long-awaited East Palms housing development in Kingston that will rebuild the lives of seven families who were displaced by fire four years ago. 

 

The 13 people, including seniors and children, were left with nothing salvageable in the 2021 arson attack at 4 East Avenue in the Kingston Central constituency. 

 

Construction of the multi-family housing project is expected to begin later this month and is scheduled for completion by December this year. 

 

Dr. Holness lamented that the lengthy delay in reaching to this stage again highlights the inefficiencies in the bureaucratic process in Jamaica.

 

"Presently, we are laser focused on making sure that we have a high level of compliance with the rules. But that level of focus on compliance, though important and though it must never be compromised, needs to also take into account that for four years elderly persons, school children and others were deprived of their homes and the benefits," he bemoaned. 

 

The seven units are being constructed under the National Social Housing Project.