Citizens Call On UDC To Provide Better Housing

While the Urban Development Corporation remains committed to transforming Downtown Kingston, some residents are frustrated at its apparent delay to complete their homes. According to them, representatives had relocated them some time ago to make way for better housing. Funds were received from the National Housing Trust to make way for this pilot project that would see the construction of 40 units on four sites in Central and West Kingston at a cost of $50 million Jamaican dollars.

Residents who live within the zone of improvement were temporarily relocated to make way for this new housing that would be sold to them under a mortgage, set at $4800 Jamaican dollars per month that would be repayable over 30 years.

However, that is yet to be delivered.

“We can’t stay here so. The whole building a go drop-down on wi. Toilet cant clean or flush,” Majorie Lewis who lives on one of the old buildings shared.

She told CVM LIVE that the building is in a deplorable state and becomes flooded whenever it rains. She is fearful that one day the building will collapse and there will be a tragedy.

According to her, the Urban Development Corporation had indicated that they would be building homes on the land they had occupied for years. She says the arrangement was for residents to rent the property once completed. However, this was not done.

“We build wi own house and rainfall we would not wet. We did have everything fi wi self and the UDC put wi over here. We suffer over here. Mi mother dead over here and she died from pneumonia,” an emotional Lewis explained.

Children also live on the building and residents are fearful of their safety.

“When rainfall, the concrete will fall on you and you have nowhere to turn,” Miriam Wong, another resident shares.

KHADIJAH THOMAS