Sharon Bucknor Lynch, National Housing Trust's acting senior director of operations presents the keys to portworker, Robert Dunkley, for his new home in Christian Gardens. - ContributedTWENTY-TWO portworkers recently received keys to their houses from the National Housing Trust (NHT), under a joint venture agreement between the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), the Kingston Port Workers Pensions Fund and the NHT.
The keys were presented to the workers at a handing over and pre-occupancy ceremony, which was attended by representatives of the NHT and the SAJ at the NHT Park Boulevard address in Kingston.
During the ceremony, the beneficiaries were briefed on taking care of their units in the Old Harbour Mews and Christian Pen Housing developments and informed about the NHT building covenant. They were also encouraged to form good relationships with their neighbours and help to build their community.
Under the joint venture facility, the Pension Fund and the NHT each finance 45 per cent of the mortgage at special interest rates, while the employee provides the remainder at the purchase price of the units.
In her remarks, Mrs. Sharon Bucknor Lynch, NHT's Acting Senior Director of Operations said the Trust was involved with 30 joint venture partners and some 1,800 employees have benefited under these schemes. She said these partnerships were working well.
Industrial Relations Officer of the SAJ, Basil Downer said the Association had been in partnership with the Trust from the 1970s, adding that employees had already acquired houses in Coronado, Eltham Park and Greater Portmore Housing schemes in St. Catherine.
He noted that more than 100 employees have benefited from the arrangement to date. Mr. Downer also encouraged the workers to take care of their new property and to see it as an investment.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, portworker, Odingo Colquhoun, expressed thanks to the NHT, SAJ and the Pension Fund and observed that more organisations needed to get involved with joint venture initiatives for the benefit of their employees.
