Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
Minister of Development, Dr. Paul Robertson (left), hands over the keys to a new home to Ms. Gloria Baddines, a beneficiary of the Inner-City Housing Project at Little King Street, Denham Town, West Kingston. Dr. Robertson represented Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at the handover ceremony on Wednesday. - PHOTOS BY JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE WEST Kingston community of Denham Town buzzed with activity on Wednesday afternoon as residents came out to witness 56 others receive keys for apartments completed under the Inner-City Housing Project.
The keys to the 94 two-bedroom housing units were handed over to complete phase one of the $7 billion project, carried out by the National Housing Trust (NHT). The project is expected to provide some 5,000 housing units to inner-city people living in the communities of Denham Town, Spanish Town and Trench Town over a three-year period.
Distinguished Fellow at the University of the West Indies, Edward Seaga; Member of Parliament and Opposition Leader, Bruce Golding; and Minister of Development, Paul Robertson, were all present to congratulate and hand over the keys to the residents.
A SOURCE OF PRIDE
They urged the residents to fulfil their financial obligations to the NHT and maintain the housing scheme's surroundings and facilities.
"The houses cost a lot of money. Inner-city communities do not have a proud record of repaying what they owe. That's part of the problem. Some persons who would be finding it to pay, if they feel that others are not paying they become demotivated and then say 'Why should I pay'?" Mr. Golding said to the new homeowners.
Mr. Seaga, the former Member of Parliament for West Kingston, said the project was a "source of pride and joy" for the constituency. He said the communities of West Kingston were the most culturally active and that the project was another step towards development.
"This is another step in the transformation from being the rectum to being a beautiful face," he said.
Dr. Robertson, representing Prime Minister Patterson at the ceremony, said the housing project would revitalise the capital city.
ONE STEP TO RESTORATION
"(The project) is a critical component of our urban renewal plan for downtown Kingston, as we seek to restore it to its former glory with the improvement of the physical social conditions of the residents of the inner city," Mr. Robertson said.
He added that some 278 residents have received vocational training under the project and some 115 jobs. He said this would assist residents in meeting their financial obligations.
The new homeowners were elated with their new apartments.
"A feel happy to know that I going into a new house and I will do my best to maintain and keep the place looking good," a happy Gloria Baddines told The Gleaner. The elderly Ms. Baddines was the first resident to collect her key.
Rohan Grizzley, who spoke on behalf of the new owners expressed thanks to the NHT, the Member of Parliament and Government for the new apartments and vowed to protect them.
"We are happy because we have been able to see our long life dream of owning a home become a reality," he said.
