PNP slams continued NHT withdrawals amid housing crisis
/ Our Today
administrator
The People’s National Party (PNP) has sharply criticised the Government’s continued withdrawal of $11.4 billion from the National Housing Trust (NHT), warning that the decision comes at the expense of thousands of Jamaicans still trying to recover from Hurricane Melissa.
Speaking during his contribution to the Budget Debate on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said the move reflects a troubling disconnect between the Government’s fiscal decisions and the lived reality of affected families. “This is not the time to be taking money out of the NHT. These are resources that should be used to rebuild homes and restore dignity to families who have lost everything,” Golding said.
At a time when Jamaica is facing a deepening housing crisis, the PNP argued that the continued diversion of NHT funds undermines the institution’s purpose and weakens the country’s ability to rebuild stronger, more resilient communities.
Golding noted that what was once introduced as a temporary measure during the height of Jamaica’s debt crisis has now become entrenched policy, despite the urgent and growing demand for affordable housing. Since 2016, more than $100 billion has been withdrawn from the NHT: resources that could have significantly expanded housing access and accelerated post-disaster recovery efforts.
“At a time when our housing stock has been severely impacted, the focus should be on strengthening the NHT, not stripping it of its resources,” he added.
The PNP is calling for an immediate end to the withdrawals and a return to the NHT’s core mandate of financing affordable housing and supporting national recovery. “The Jamaican people deserve a government that prioritises their basic needs. Housing must come first,” Golding said.
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