PM Holness says delivery of 6,000 social housing units will take time

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says it will take some time for the administration to fulfill its mandate under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP). 

 

The government has promised to construct 6,000 houses for vulnerable people over the next few years. 

 

The parliamentary opposition has criticised the pace of the programme and argued that it will not solve the country's housing crisis.

 

Speaking Friday at an NSHP handing over ceremony in Brompton district, Trelawny, Prime Minister Holness said the programme is delivering despite the criticism. 

 

He added that the government is busy trying to solve the housing, water and road issues facing the country.

 

"Yes, there are many people in Jamaica who deserve a house, many. But physically, I could not build 6,000 houses in one year to give everybody. Physically, it's just not possible. Now, that is not an excuse. Governments, regardless of how long communities have been without, have a duty to provide the service, whether it is a social house or whether it is the water or whether it is the road. But the electorate - and for good reason, clearly because they are frustrated having suffered so long, not having either the house or the water - really does not care about any excuses. They want to get the road and the water and get it now," he acknowledged. 

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Holness reiterated that the lengthy procurement process has been delaying the delivery of the houses. 

 

"Because before, it was friend and company and you never get the best value of money. Now, we have a process that makes sure you get the best value of money. And that procurement process can take anywhere from six months to sometimes two years," he admitted, adding: "So the issue now is how do we increase the pace of delivery? How do we get the public servants to understand that there is an electorate out there that has been deprived for very long, that they are very frustrated and they want to see things happen quickly?" 

 

Six social units were handed over on Friday.