Throne Speech | Government to upgrade 'big yards'

The Government is to move to upgrade the country’s tenement housings, more commonly called ‘Big Yards’.

Governor General Patrick Allen, in delivering the Throne Speech in Parliament, said this year the Government will also be relocating vulnerable communities and will be embarking on a new Social Housing Programme.

Allen said the programme will be administered under the housing component of the H.O.P.E. project through which employment opportunities will be provided for HOPE interns.

Meanwhile, Allen said the Government will this year undertake a comprehensive multi-agency national survey of squatter settlements.

He said the exercise will seek to accurately ascertain the extent of squatting in the country.

Further, it will also provide critical socio-economic, demographic and environmental information on these settlements that will inform the policy development process as well as intervention strategies.

Meanwhile, he disclosed that drafting instructions are now being finalised for the amendments to the Registration (Strata Titles) Act, the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act and the Timeshare Vacations Act, to give effect to the establishment of the Real Estate Authority of        Jamaica for greater efficiency.

He said the Government will also bring legislation to regularise communities with shared amenities not governed by the Registration (Strata Titles) Act.

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