#BudgetDebates2018: Phillips wants to use NHT refunds to end squatting

Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips says if he becomes prime minister, he will use uncollected National Housing Trust (NHT) refunds to undertake a comprehensive transformation of squatter communities across Jamaica.

It’s one of the recommendations coming out of the commission Phillips set up last year to look at how to end landlessness in Jamaica.

Making his contribution to the Budget Debates in the House of Representatives Thursday afternoon, Phillips said he would withdraw at least $10 billion of refunds not collected for at least seven years to fund the programme.

In the meantime, Phillips is promising islandwide mapping of land to help lower the cost of getting surveys done.

Phillips said he would separate the process for subdivision approval and land titling, as part of efforts to make it easier for Jamaicans to get land titles and to access financing.

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