Holness appeals for more private sector support in social housing push
Published:Thursday | December 15, 2022 | 1:20 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday affirmed that the Government’s New Social Housing Programme was void of corruption as he sought to implore more private-sector companies to support the initiative.
Holness was speaking at the handing over of a two-bedroom unit to Sidonie Eldemire in Olympic Gardens, which is located in his St Andrew West Central constituency.
Holness said that by the end of this week, he would be handing over another 12 units as he targets delivering 150 houses under the programme by year-end and 200 more by the end of the financial year.
The prime minister said that some 6,000 households in Jamaica would qualify for the housing renewal, but the nearly $500 million allocated in the Budget was not sufficient to address the need.
He disclosed that since making an appeal for private sector support in February, only ARC Properties Limited has reached out to support the programme, adding that he was aware that building public trust is important to getting more businesses interested.
“The PSOJ (Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica) has endorsed it, and I have other people in the private sector looking at it, whether or not it can work, but from the time we have made the appeal up to now, it has gone through an incredibly long process,” Holness said.
Holness said that each homeowner’s situation is urgent and that processes were in place to maintain accountability even as the Government moves apace with the urgency the situation demands.
“It is important that the people on the road where the house is built, in the country, feel that this is not some project in which it is just being built for the purposes of giving the contractor money and the workman money and whatever comes out in terms of a house is just it. No,” Holness said, noting that every dollar allocated for the house is spent on the structure and that the quality of the finish was a testament to this.
“We emphasise that because there is a sense where the private sector, private individuals, seem to have a fear – that we have heard expressed in other forums – in partnering with the Government to deliver social benefits. I am saying that fear is unfounded and unreasonable in the current circumstances,” Holness said.
Norman Horne, chairman of Arc Properties, said he was pleased with his company’s involvement as he celebrated the completion of the first home since signing a memorandum of understanding.
Horne said that Arc Properties was moved to give back because it is part of his business philosophy and they want to continue making profits.
“We strive for a strong correlation between economic prosperity and improved social conditions for contemporary Jamaican society,” he said, noting that ARC Properties had had a good year and decided to use some of its profit to assist people in need.
“God has blessed us in a way that we can earn and we can give back. ... Today, we can share that profit with Sidonie, and we are more than happy to do that,” Horne said.
The Arc chairman said the company is looking to continue giving back annually going forward.
“We don’t want to be a business that just focuses on money and harvesting equity and building capital for shareholders. We want to be a business that focuses on the social good, a business that helps Jamaica in our very small way to grow and develop,” Horne said.
An emotional Eldemire thanked the prime minister and ARC Properties for the home.
“Who could it be but God? ... I appreciate it so much, and I will keep it up and prove to you that we are not just voting to get help. We are working working, working,” a tearful Eldemire said to thunderous applause and chants of “Shower! Shower!”