WESTERN BUREAU:

The Ministry of Water and Housing is to assume the lead role in the development of 93 acres of land in Rhyne Park South, St James, to provide housing solutions for some 700 families of tourism workers based in Rose Hall, Montego Bay.

The land, valued at US$1 million ($80 million) and owned by Rose Hall Developments Limited, was handed over to the ministry as part of a joint-venture agreement between the two entities. The entire project is valued at approximately US$2 billion ($160 billion), Minister of Water and Housing Dr Horace Chang has estimated.

A long-time lobbyist for legitimising informal settlements, Chang said there was nothing more gratifying than security of tenure.

"Ownership is critical; it is important to one's own self-respect and self-esteem, while giving that sense of independence and self-worth, and this is exactly what this project will allow the industry worker," he said.

North coast squatter problem

Over the years, Chang has brought attention to the challenges of informal settlements mushrooming on the north coast. This gesture, he said, would serve to resolve the widespread problem, in addition to providing quality housing for tourism and hospitality workers.

He described the Michele Rollins-led team as the driving force behind the entire growth of the town, urging that that example become a springboard for other initiatives.

"It would be a joy to see other private-sector organisations emulating Rose Hall Developments," he said, adding that this was the only way the country could begin to arrest the expansion of formal settlements, and their attendant socio-economic woes, in and around Montego Bay and the north coast in general.

Before signing the documents formalising the agreement, Rollins, chairman of Rose Hall Developments, spoke of her hope of building strong community links and facilitating more stable housing for hospitality workers.

"This was what my late husband John Rollins' vision was for Rose Hall. He believed that tourism couldn't exist without the people and his dream was to ensure that housing was made available to employees of the developments in the area."

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com