By Balford Henry, Staff ReporterA CONTRACT for $157 million has been approved by the Government, to undertake infrastructure works for the development of 591 serviced lots in Clarendon for sugar workers housing.
As part of their 2000/2002 labour agreement, the trade unions representing the workers, and the employers, including the Government which owns the Bernard Lodge, Frome and Monymusk factories, announced that over 5,000 sugar workers would be sold houses over a five-year period.
The units are to be sold by the National Housing Trust (NHT) under a special programme sanctioned by the Office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has portfolio responsibility for the NHT.
The mix includes 90 per cent complete housing and 10 per cent land, and a waiver of the initial downpayment. But, although the first 600 units should have been delivered in 2000/2001, none of the houses have been handed over after two years and the programme has now been scaled down to 3,662 "affordable housing solutions" over the five year period which ends in 2005.
The sugar workers have also expressed disagreement with the prices and want them reduced to more affordable levels. They have been offered serviced lots, shell structures and studio apartments for $350,000, $700,000 and $920,000 each, respectively.
On Monday, the Cabinet approved a contract awarded to M&M Jamaica Limited, the lowest bidder, for $157.1 million for infrastructure work, including construction of roadways, establishment of a water distribution system, construction of storm water drains and the cutting of footpaths.
The work is to be carried out at Hayes, on part of the Bog Estates, Raymonds and the Monymusk Sugar Housing Project.
The development is a joint venture between the NHT, the Sugar Producers Federation and the trade unions which include the Bustamante Industrial Trades Union, the National Workers Union and the University and Allied Workers Union.
