Golding fires back at PM’s dismissal of PNP housing plan
Published:Tuesday | April 29, 2025 | 12:11 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
A heated political debate over housing policy has erupted between the Government and the parliamentary Opposition, as both sides seek to win voter support ahead of Jamaica’s next general election.
On Monday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding responded to recent criticisms from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who on Friday dismissed the People’s National Party (PNP)’s housing proposals as unrealistic. Holness insisted that his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration has been the one delivering real results in housing.
“Don’t believe the people who come to you and tell you, ‘Yes, we can solve the problem and we’ll sell you a horse that can fly’. There are certain realities that we have to consider,” said Holness.
Golding, however, pushed back in a social media post, accusing the Holness administration of falling short of its own promises. He highlighted that in 2020, the JLP pledged to build 70,000 homes through the National Housing Trust (NHT) by 2025, including 10,000 for youth and 30 per cent reserved for public-sector workers.
The opposition leader said after nine years in office, “only 14,741 homes have been delivered” and “only 7,950 NHT homes have been built during” the current term.
According to the NHT’s 2023-2024 annual report, the agency fell short of its housing targets. While it aimed to start 11,504 homes during the financial year, it said delays in pre-construction activities meant only 1,128 units were initiated. It had also set a goal of 4,141 housing completions, but finished just 2,582 – though that was a 67 per cent increase over the prior year. Only 897 were individual housing projects, down from 78 per cent of total completions the previous year.
“You have failed to deliver on those promises for young people and public-sector workers. You also promised 1,000 social houses per year, yet fewer than 300 have been delivered in 9 years. Another failed promise,” said Golding.
He reiterated the PNP’s plan for housing, noting that the proposed $1-billion Young Owners Fund would be replenished annually by ending the yearly $11.4 billion “raid” on the NHT.
Golding said the move would cause 2,000 young people to benefit per year, resulting in 10,000 who will benefit in one term.
“The People’s National Party has a comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan to provide real solutions for all Jamaicans when we form the next government,” he said in the post on X.
The opposition leader said $500,000 grants would be offerred to first-time buyers who are up to 35 years old under the Young Owners Fund.
He also stated that the PNP will implement a Rent-to-Own Programme to support individuals who are either informally employed or unable to save enough for a deposit. Additionally, the plan includes reinstating reduced NHT interest rates for public sector workers, increasing the debt service ratio to 40 per cent to enable larger mortgages, and providing a three-month moratorium before mortgage payments begin.
Golding said the PNP also plans to remove insurance costs for low-income NHT borrowers earning $30,000 per week or less.
Additionally, he said its policy will exclude the land value from the price of NHT houses, reducing house prices by up to $3 million to contributors.
“Jamaica deserves better. Call the election, Prime Minister. The people are ready,” he asserted.
Speaking at a political meeting in St Ann on Sunday, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell said the next PNP government would build 50,000 low-income houses, valued at $10 million or less.
“I see them selling houses now for $40 million – two bedrooms. How is it that [a private developer] in St Ann build a two-bedroom house for $18 million to $20 million, but HAJ (Housing Agency of Jamaica) in Runaway Bay build the same two-bedroom house for $30 million? How the Government a build house more expensive than the private developer? That will not happen under the watch of the People’s National Party,” said Campbell.