Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday (October 13) led the handing over of 30 keys to newly constructed detached two-bedroom units at Roseneath Park in Old Harbour, St Catherine.

The units were developed through Roseneath Developers under the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) Guaranteed Purchase Programme. 

Balanced and “fairly distributed” were how Holness described the selection of the cohort of beneficiaries for Roseneath Park during his keynote address. 

In highlighting certain key data, he revealed that 33 per cent of the selectees were young adults aged 19-35, while 37 per cent were 46 to55.

The prime minister, who also indicated that 39 per cent earned between the minimum wage and $15,001 per week, used the opportunity to emphasise the impartiality of the selection process. 

“The system of selecting the beneficiaries is quite transparent with no interference… nobody exercises any influence on how beneficiaries are selected for the houses that come on the market,” said Holness. 

He added that, while global factors such as price increases to key inputs like steel continued to impact the housing industry, the NHT remained committed to providing affordable housing solutions for Jamaicans at every income band. 

In commending the NHT for its role in housing Jamaicans, Dr Horace Chang, deputy prime minister and minister of national security, thanked the organisation for facilitating the homeownership goals for Constable Owen Graham, who was selected for a unit under the NHT’s Special Home Grant Allotment Policy.

Graham was injured and paralysed from the waist down as a result of a motor vehicle accident while on active duty in 2019.

The unit handed over to Graham saw an additional $2.55 million in modifications and upgrades, including reinforced concrete walls, grab bars in the bathroom, access ramps, customised shower design and kitchen cupboards. 

Highlighting the partnership with Roseneath Developers Limited, NHT Board Chairman Lennox Channer noted that increased partnership was critical to meeting the ever-growing demand for housing.

“The NHT continues to forge strategic partnerships and alliances to meet the growing housing demand. Through the general thrust of our affordable housing programme, initiatives such as our new Developers Programme and the Guaranteed Purchase Programme (GPP) [under which Roseneath falls] were developed,” said Channer.

Echoing these sentiments regarding partnership, Malcolm McDonald, managing director, Roseneath Developers Limited, thanked the NHT for the opportunity and assured that the units were constructed in accordance with the highest building standards. 

The ceremony culminated with new homeowner, Daviena Boyd, lauding the NHT’s programmes and facilities. 

“Parent Assist allows applicants to qualify for units using their parent’s points. This enabled me, a young 33-year-old Jamaican woman to qualify for this unit without co-applying with someone else,” said Daviena. 

The 30 housing units form part of the 140 detached two-bedroom units to be constructed through Roseneath Limited Developers under the GPP. Under the programme, developers conceptualise and execute their development plans, while the NHT absorbs the market risk by purchasing part or all of the development. This approach seeks to leverage the efficiencies within the private sector so that units can be delivered at lower costs, within faster timeframes and with the private partner assuming most of the implementation risks.

Upon completion, residents at Roseneath Park will enjoy commercial spaces, recreational areas, as well as a space earmarked for a church and school.