Delroy Chuck ACROSS THE country, the chronic shortage of housing manifests itself in a variety of ways. Squatter communities develop on government lands, large estates and, in fact, any available open space. Our mountains become denuded as shacks are built, the woodlands cleared for agriculture and the wood used to burn coal or for fire. Nowhere is the shortage more manifested than in the urban areas, which have become grossly overcrowded, structurally disorganised and physically ugly.
Urban decay has set in, rapidly destroying most of our cities, towns and surrounding areas. Driving in and around Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, May Pen, Spanish Town and most of lower St. Andrew and Kingston, and I suspect most of the other towns, it is easy to see the lack of planning, the ramshackle developments and decrepit shacks in which hundreds of thousands of our poor people live and survive. When our people live in these conditions, there can be little sense of pride, of worth and of belonging to a country in which luxury mansions are everywhere, multi-million dollar vehicles drive through and the trappings of wealth and opulence surround them.
VISION AND LEADERSHIP
We need to summon the will, vision and leadership to curb the urban decline but, more importantly, to bring capital and labour together in a massive programme of urban renewal. And, I think, it is quite possible in large and small-scale housing developments, which are sorely needed and can happen if, once again, we only put our minds to the task. When a new building site opens, thousands of young men crowd the site in search of employment, of hope, but many leave in frustration and great distress. Tens of thousands of these young people could find work and useful occupation if only more construction work were available, and the question is why not?
Just imagine, at this time, the billions of dollars that lie idle in bank accounts, invested in government paper and seeking safe havens, if only we could attract some of these funds to the building industry.
Investments in housing and buildings, in good locations, are easily the safest assets, an edge against inflation and always in demand. Yet, there is no organised programme to bring suitable housing in well-appointed areas or to satisfy the need of city dwellers. Quite frankly, I do not support the clearing and use of all the green areas in and around the cities and towns. I strongly urge concentration on urban renewal and rehabilitation of the inner cities.
Take Kingston and lower St. Andrew, most areas have become large, sprawling slums, which are in desperate need of renewal, rebuilding and proper development. When one drives in from the Norman Manley Airport along the corridor from Rockfort, through Mountain View or even along Windward Road, there is nothing but ugliness and decay. Bournemouth Gardens, Rollington Town, Vineyard Town, most areas around Cross Roads and Half- Way Tree were once well-appointed residences, populated by the well-to-do and much sought after as desirable communities. These communities beg for renewal. No significant new developments or worthwhile physical improvements have occurred in them for decades. These areas, and many others, should be earmarked for joint ventures between the government and private developers for urban housing developments.
It is surely not beyond our imagination to contemplate how a process of urban renewal and rebuilding can easily commence. I would propose that the private sector or the government should identify properties in and near to middle class communities that have fallen into decay and disintegration, purchase and/or compulsorily acquire the land, resell to private developers who would then build housing estates. For example, take Birdsucker Lane in my North East St. Andrew constituency, it borders on some of the richest homes and properties, yet the shacks and decay that one finds along a narrow stretch of road undermines the whole integrity and worth of the surrounding communities. Since a private developer cannot just purchase and develop the properties, I think the government should earmark the whole corridor for lower middle class housing development, acquire the properties, provide relocation grants for residents to move elsewhere and give them the first option to purchase homes there, then sell the land to private developers to build houses and apartments in the 3 to 10 million dollars range.
HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS
I am aware that there will be discomfort and inconvenience to the hundreds and thousands who have to relocate, yet we have to start thinking outside of the box and focus on the bigger picture of urban renewal and the provision of suitable housing for urban dwellers. I daresay none of the residents who now live in shacks and some literally in rooms held together by cardboard boxes are happy with their living conditions and would welcome a relocation grant to build something decent elsewhere. I only ask that we start to think of how we can bring capital and labour together in a massive housing programme to renew and rebuild our cities and towns.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com.
