Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Government will be examining the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), to see how best to incorporate the provision of land for building.

Speaking yesterday (July 10, 2025) at the Groundbreaking and Contract Signing for the Hibiscus Housing Development at Tower Hill in Kingston 11, Prime Minister Holness said the NSHP currently does not provide the land, so if beneficiaries meet the need, they would have to find the land.

“We have been examining the programme and at some point in time we are going to have to make a change to the programme to include finding lands for persons who meet the need criteria, but don’t have the lands. Right now we could be building many more houses, but we have actually reached the limit in terms of the number of beneficiaries who have the land on which we can build”, he explained.

The Prime Minister added that one of the challenges the programme faces, is that many properties in these communities are not titled.

“Some of them, the owners have migrated, and different persons have been occupying the lands over time and so they are not regularised, so it takes some time to establish ownership for the lands”, he noted.

The Prime Minister noted that while beneficiary assessment, land acquisition, and project design remain the most time-consuming aspects of the programme, there has been significant improvement in the construction and delivery of houses, some completed within just two to three months.

“The phase we are in now is to scale up the programme. In the next budget we will have more resources, we will expand the programme. We will add new features to the programme so that we can serve more people”, the Prime Minister stated.

The Hibiscus Housing Developed is being constructed under Modality Three of the New Social Housing Programme: the “Upgrade of Tenements” (Big Yards).

The Development which has a timeline of six (6) months, will be completed at a cost of over $45 million and will see the construction of seven (7) units, comprising four (4) studios, one (1) two-bedroom unit and two (2) three-bedroom units. The project will benefit 16 persons, including children, who were living in deplorable conditions.

As of July 10, 2025, a total of 295 housing units or 676 rooms have been completed, with over 1063 persons benefitting.   There are 45 active construction projects or 93 rooms which will be completed in short order.  Sixty-five additional projects will commence during this financial year, adding another 384 rooms to the housing stock.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Hon. Matthew Samuda at the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Knowledge Exchange on June 23, 2025.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, emphasized the urgency of collective climate action, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and vulnerable nations across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.

Minister Samuda was speaking at the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) LAC Knowledge Exchange being hosted by the Government of Jamaica, CIF, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank Group at UWI Regional Headquarters. This four-day gathering of regional leaders, development partners, and technical experts is focused on accelerating climate resilience and sustainable development.

“For Jamaica and our Neighbours, climate change is not a distant threat—it is a lived reality,” the Minister noted. “From more frequent hurricanes and prolonged droughts to coastal degradation and agricultural disruption, our development gains are at risk.”

Recent data underscores the gravity of the challenge. The IDB estimates that climate change could cost the region up to 1.5% of its GDP annually by 2050, while climate-related events have already caused over USD 150 billion in damages between 2000 and 2022. Addressing these threats will require an estimated USD 1.3 trillion in investment by 2030, according to the European Investment Bank.

Minister Samuda called for continued support of the UNFCCC framework and robust financing for key mechanisms such as the CIF, the Green Climate Fund, and the Loss and Damage Fund, stressing the need for equity, accessibility, and locally led solutions.

Highlighting Jamaica’s experience as a participant in the CIF’s Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), he pointed to successful initiatives involving climate-smart agriculture, resilient infrastructure, and enhanced early warning systems as examples of what meaningful partnership can achieve.

“This Knowledge Exchange gives us the space to reflect, collaborate, and scale up investments under new CIF programs like Nature, People and Climate (NPC) and ARISE, guided by equity, science, and shared learning,” the Minister said.

The event is expected to deepen South-South cooperation, strengthen regional alliances, and amplify the voices of climate-vulnerable communities across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Over the four days, the group will also visit projects that benefited from CIF funding in Jamaica, including a solar-powered agricultural production hub that demonstrates how concessional finance can drive tangible progress in national planning, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

Minister Samuda thanks CIF, IDB, and the World Bank Group for hosting this four-day Knowledge Exchange and bringing together approximately 150 participants from CIF recipient country governments, the private sector, civil society, indigenous peoples, local community groups, as well as CIF MDB partners from the IDB, IFC, and World Bank.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, cuts the ribbon at the official opening of Phase One of the Garmex Freezone Redevelopment and Expansion Project in Kingston.

“Another bold new chapter in Jamaica’s industrial journey”, is the description given by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, to Phase One of the   Garmex Freezone Redevelopment and Expansion Project, during the official opening of the complex at its Industrial Terrace location in Kingston today (June 23, 2025).

Developed by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), Phase One of the project delivered approximately 126,000 square feet of new industrial space across 17 enterprises in multiple sectors including mini warehouses and micro businesses, at a cost of $1.1 billion.

“The real achievement is that this was fully funded from the resources of the FCJ.  There was no borrowing to do this. That is prudent public financial management which leads to smart and sustainable development”, he stated.

The Prime Minister further noted that in just over two years since the new facilities became operational, they have generated more than $340 million in rental income and these revenues will be reinvested to finance additional phases of expansion.

The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, was also the launching pad for Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment project, which together will represent nearly half a million square feet of new commercial and industrial space.

Prime Minister Holness said Phase 2 at an estimated cost of $3.2 Billion, will feature a new Marcus Garvey Drive entrance, and a new headquarters for the FCJ.  It will also include multi-level warehouse building and a modern high rise commercial complex.

The Prime Minister further noted that in addition to the spaces allocated for food outlets, medical centres, banking and other facilities required for modern light manufacturing and small business enterprises, the Government is also seeking to develop the area to accommodate technology firms.

“So phase 3 will see the transformation of 5.7 acres of vacant greenfield land into 150,000 square feet of productive space at a cost of $1.5 billion.  I am pleased to report that contracts have already been signed, and work is well underway, with an initial investment of $240 million. These 2 phases combined are projected to create up to 400 jobs in the construction phase and as many as 3000 new permanent jobs across the campus over the next 5 years”, he explained.

Dr Holness said the Garmex Project reflects “the government’s economic strategy in action”, noting that what is being built is “the infrastructure of prosperity”.

“There is a great push for near shoring and friendly shoring and a rethink of where the manufacturing capabilities of the world should exist. Jamaica should not wait until investors are knocking on our door to say we want to come and locate here. We have to build here and wave frantically and say hey, we have facilities, capabilities and the necessary fiscal framework”, the Prime Minister said.

Established in 1976, Garmex has evolved from a warehousing and trans-shipment facility into the “most diverse Freezone in Jamaica and the largest commercial industrial complex on the island”.   The redevelopment project is a direct response to the growing demand for commercial and industrial space and is designed to transform the complex into a vibrant Special Economic Zone.

The Government of Jamaica, through the National Water Commission (NWC), officially broke ground today (May 27, 2025) for the J$1 billion Ferry to Rock Pond Pipeline Project.

The project runs across three constituencies and is set to bring much-needed water relief to several communities in Red Hills and surrounding areas. The NWC is spearheading this transformative initiative and forms part of the Government’s continued efforts to expand and modernise Jamaica’s water distribution network.

The project includes the installation of approximately 7,220 metres of 12-inch ductile iron pipeline from the Ferry Pump Station to Topaz Crescent.

It also involves the construction of two relift stations, two 50,000-gallon storage tanks, and the installation of duty and standby pumps. Rehabilitation works will also be carried out at the existing Ferry compound to improve operational efficiency.

In his address, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, noted that many of the projects for which ground was recently broken, including the Ferry to Rock Pond Project, are not new, with several being on the books for years.   However, he noted, the finances to implement them were lacking.

“For us to do the actual capital investment, lay the pipe, put in the pump, develop the water source, you have to be able to invest, and to maintain it, you have to have the funds for the recurrent expenditure. What happened to Jamaica over the last four or five decades is that we simply did not have the capital budget or the recurrent budget”, Prime Minister Holness said.

Once completed, the project will directly benefit residents across the communities of Red Hills, Belvedere, Rock Pond, Cyprus Hall, Mosquito Valley, Plantation Heights, Brentwood, Stanmore, Tom Cringle, and Sterling Castle. These communities have long faced water supply challenges, particularly during the dry season.

The Ferry to Rock Pond Pipeline Project is aligned with the Government’s broader commitment to ensuring equitable access to basic infrastructure, especially in rapidly growing and underserved areas.

Prime Minister Holness also led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Forest Hill Solar PV Project. The total project cost of J$81,500,000 covers materials, labour, and associated expenses.

It was completed on April 16 and involved the installation of a 350-kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic system, designed to supplement the facility’s energy requirements and reduce dependence on the national electricity grid.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, noted that the energy investment is a critical component of not only this project, but several others to come, as it will not only build stability in the price of energy, but also the supply.

“Much of Jamaica lives in the hilly interior of the island, and we must pump from surface water sources up these hills, which requires triple-phase power.  Much of the network is the old-style English pumps that use up a lot of electricity.  So, this sort of investment in a 350-kilowatt grid-tide solar system,  for some J$81.5 million, creates the sort of resilience for the 26,000 residents who will benefit from the pipeline that is to come”, he stated.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda says Cabinet has approved $150 million for the trucking of water to areas that are currently experiencing drought conditions; $40 million will be disbursed immediately to several areas based on their current situation.

Minister Samuda was speaking at today’s (February 26, 2025) Post Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.

The areas to receive immediate funding include Manchester, Westmoreland; Clarendon; St. Elizabeth; as well as Eastern Portland and Eastern St. Thomas.

“The trucking programme will be overseen by the municipalities. We will be making those transfers through the Ministry of Local Government from MEGJC (the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation) this week.  This will allow Members of Parliament and Councillors to immediately respond to those most in need”, he noted.

Noting that Jamaica had a bimodal rainfall pattern with February traditionally being the driest month of the year, Minister Samuda said as early as December there were reductions in rainfall in the South Central and Western sections of the island.

“What this has triggered for the National Water Commission is not a national problem, but 23 of our systems are experiencing shortfalls in their water intake, meaning 5 percent of our water systems are now being regulated”, he noted.

In the meantime, Minister Samuda explained that the Corporate Area would not experience water regulations as the latest checks, showed the Hermitage Dam at 89 percent and the Mona Reservoir at 98 percent.

This is the first of many drought alleviation steps to be taken.  The Government through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, will commence the distribution of 10,000 water tanks by this weekend.

“What that will allow, in essence, is 150 recipients per constituency to receive tanks. It is a major intervention in the tertiary storage level” the Minister stated.

The Government will continue to monitor the drought conditions carefully.

The National Works Agency’s Accelerated Bridge Programme has been further strengthened with the signing of a Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Jamaica, and two United Kingdom-based entities, Acrow Global Limited and Lagan Aviation and Infrastructure Limited.

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan, told Parliament yesterday ( February 4, 2025) that the agreement establishes a collaborative and structured framework for the implementation of the Accelerated Bridge Programme.

“Under this framework, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the National Works Agency, Acrow Global Limited and Lagan Aviation and Infrastructure, have aligned efforts to ensure the seamless execution of the project. It entails the installation and upgrading of 54 bridges across the island.  This includes 44 permanent vehicular bridges, 3 permanent pedestrian bridges and 7 emergency use bridges” Minister Morgan explained.

The Minister said the GOJ has recognised the Programme, as a priority project within the Government to Government Framework of Cooperation with the United Kingdom’s Export Finance.

He added that the collaboration allows access to financing mechanisms that will accelerate implementation to ensure cost-effective execution.

“Under this programme, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation is the buyer and project overseer; the Ministry of Finance is the borrower responsible for securing funding; the National Works Agency is the implementing Agency ensuring technical and structural integrity; Lagan is the principal contractor responsible for the execution and Acrow is the specialist bridge supplier ensuring high-quality structures”, he stated.

The Accelerated Bridge Programme is a strategic national effort to enhance connectivity, improve public safety and facilitate economic growth by constructing and rehabilitating key bridges across the island.