Commits to improving housing agency’s operations

The Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) Limited has managed to make a significant dent in its multi-billion debt to the National Housing Trust (NHT).

This has allowed the HAJ, which operates as a land and housing development company providing shelter solutions for Jamaicans to complete and continue many of its housing developments across Jamaica. The slashing of the debt was mainly due to help from the Government of Jamaica.

Since 2016, the debt owed to the NHT has been reduced from J$3.5 billion to J$500 million, as a result of assistance provided by the Government, which is committed to reduce the debt that the agency has incurred.

Robert Morgan, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for information, said “the Government’s interest at this point is to run a proper HAJ”.

Morgan pointed out that the reduced debt burden would enable the agency to function effectively.

“In order for the HAJ to become properly viable and to fulfil its mandate, we have to remove that debt that it owes to NHT, and we have been very successful in doing that,” he added.

Morgan noted that the Government has been engaged in the process of completing unfinished development projects of the HAJ, as part of its remit to provide diverse housing solutions for Jamaicans.

He reiterated that the Government was committed to improving the operations of the HAJ islandwide.

Morgan also emphasised that the HAJ was essential to creating a supportive framework to facilitate multiple pathways to homeownership for all Jamaicans, and highlighted that its core services include providing shelter solutions on the open market and upgrading and regularising informal settlements.

The HAJ is owned by the Government and falls under the portfolio of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.