MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Trevor Clarke has lived in at least six rented houses in his more than 20 years as a working adult.
Clarke, who was recently presented with letters of possession for a lot in phase one of the National Housing Trust's (NHT's) Perth Housing Development on the outskirts of Mandeville, has plans to change that status to landowner in short order.
"I am looking forward to having my dream as soon as possible," said Clarke, adding that he had always been looking for opportunities to purchase land or a house.
"No more house hunting. (I) will be house building. Nothing will stop me," he told the Jamaica Observer Central.
Clarke was one of 25 NHT contributors who received their titles. Another recipient was Caroline Lawson. For her, too, the wait to become a landowner has been "a long time coming".
"I have been applying since the (19)80s. I had given up hope," she said.
And now that she has been awarded land and is closer to realising her dream, Lawson is ready to build.
For Darren Brown, the wait wasn't that long, but he is just as elated to be one step closer to owning a home for himself.
Brown has worked with the same employer in Mandeville for 13 years and had previously been thinking of migrating to the US or Canada to work and raise enough funds to purchase land.
Now that he has the lot in the Perth scheme, if he does go, it would be to save towards building.
The new 592-acre scheme is being constructed in three phases and contributors were invited to apply last year for 258 available serviced lots in phase one.
The initial letters of possession were handed over in March to signal the birth of the development.
The development is touted as the largest venture to be carried out by the NHT in Manchester to date. It was done at a cost of $677.46 million.
The new development has, however, caused the issue of water supply constraints in the parish to resurface. Those sections of Mandeville served by State-owned utility provider National Water Commission don't have constant supply, and presently, Perth has no approval for connection to the commission's system.
But the Trust has assured the new landowners that there are provisions in place for rainwater harvesting. In addition, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in addressing the gathering, said that a 300,000-gallon water storage tank is available for emergency situations. Plans are afoot to have the NWC take piped water to the area by 2015, she said.
Another issue some stakeholders have highlighted is the potential traffic bottlenecks to be created on Perth Road once occupancy levels start climbing.
Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting expressed concern that without a variation of the traffic management plan there could be serious pile-up on Perth Road.
But the beneficiaries seem unfazed.
Speaking on the issue, Lawson said: "We have to start somewhere."
Clarke, on the other hand, said that while he is not deterred by the water challenges or possible traffic problems, he expects that the NHT will "carry out their portion of the (bargain)" to ensure that their needs are met.
According to the NHT, the beneficiaries of Perth phase one were drawn from a range of professions and salary levels. Lots ranged in cost from $1.5 million to $3.9 million
Simpson Miller, meanwhile, urged the beneficiaries to create model communities rather than merely build houses.
"We don't want to just build houses; we want to ensure that wherever communities are created people will live together in peace and in love. Part of the challenge we are having in Jamaica today (is) we are having too much selfishness..." the prime minister said.
Cecile Watson, managing director of the National Housing Trust, told the recipients at the ceremony, following a bus tour of the property, that she hoped they would soon access construction loans.
Today, he is still a tenant, but not for much longer.
The 25 Perth Housing Development beneficiaries display their letters of possession.
Beneficiary Trevor Clarke collects his letter of possession from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
The 300,000-gallon water storage tank at Perth is for emergency purposes.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller cuts the ribbon signalling the opening of the Perth Housing Development in Mandeville. With her (from left) are Claudette Russell, councillor for the Mandeville Division, Jones Oliphant (partially hidden), Cecile Watson, NHT managing director, NHT Chairman Easton Douglas and Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting. (PHOTOS: GREGORY BENNETT)
      Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller cuts the ribbon signalling the opening of the Perth Housing Development in Mandeville. With her (from left) are Claudette Russell, councillor for the Mandeville Division, Jones Oliphant (partially hidden), Cecile Watson, NHT managing director, NHT Chairman Easton Douglas and Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting. (PHOTOS: GREGORY BENNETT) #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  4/4  |
"I am looking forward to having my dream as soon as possible," said Clarke, adding that he had always been looking for opportunities to purchase land or a house.
"No more house hunting. (I) will be house building. Nothing will stop me," he told the Jamaica Observer Central.
Clarke was one of 25 NHT contributors who received their titles. Another recipient was Caroline Lawson. For her, too, the wait to become a landowner has been "a long time coming".
"I have been applying since the (19)80s. I had given up hope," she said.
And now that she has been awarded land and is closer to realising her dream, Lawson is ready to build.
For Darren Brown, the wait wasn't that long, but he is just as elated to be one step closer to owning a home for himself.
Brown has worked with the same employer in Mandeville for 13 years and had previously been thinking of migrating to the US or Canada to work and raise enough funds to purchase land.
Now that he has the lot in the Perth scheme, if he does go, it would be to save towards building.
The new 592-acre scheme is being constructed in three phases and contributors were invited to apply last year for 258 available serviced lots in phase one.
The initial letters of possession were handed over in March to signal the birth of the development.
The development is touted as the largest venture to be carried out by the NHT in Manchester to date. It was done at a cost of $677.46 million.
The new development has, however, caused the issue of water supply constraints in the parish to resurface. Those sections of Mandeville served by State-owned utility provider National Water Commission don't have constant supply, and presently, Perth has no approval for connection to the commission's system.
But the Trust has assured the new landowners that there are provisions in place for rainwater harvesting. In addition, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in addressing the gathering, said that a 300,000-gallon water storage tank is available for emergency situations. Plans are afoot to have the NWC take piped water to the area by 2015, she said.
Another issue some stakeholders have highlighted is the potential traffic bottlenecks to be created on Perth Road once occupancy levels start climbing.
Central Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting expressed concern that without a variation of the traffic management plan there could be serious pile-up on Perth Road.
But the beneficiaries seem unfazed.
Speaking on the issue, Lawson said: "We have to start somewhere."
Clarke, on the other hand, said that while he is not deterred by the water challenges or possible traffic problems, he expects that the NHT will "carry out their portion of the (bargain)" to ensure that their needs are met.
According to the NHT, the beneficiaries of Perth phase one were drawn from a range of professions and salary levels. Lots ranged in cost from $1.5 million to $3.9 million
Simpson Miller, meanwhile, urged the beneficiaries to create model communities rather than merely build houses.
"We don't want to just build houses; we want to ensure that wherever communities are created people will live together in peace and in love. Part of the challenge we are having in Jamaica today (is) we are having too much selfishness..." the prime minister said.
Cecile Watson, managing director of the National Housing Trust, told the recipients at the ceremony, following a bus tour of the property, that she hoped they would soon access construction loans.