Prime Minister Andrew Holness has warned that the continued growth of squatter settlements and unplanned communities is placing significant pressure on Jamaica’s infrastructure, public services, and economic productivity, while urging private developers to expand the supply of affordable housing across the island.
Speaking on Friday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Wick Hall Estate housing development in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Holness said the long-term solution to squatting extends beyond enforcement measures and requires making formal housing more accessible to low- and middle-income Jamaicans.
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“We need to build more houses at prices that people can afford to make it uneconomical for persons to squat and occupy land illegally,” the prime minister said. “That has to be the strategy.”
Holness noted that the Government has committed to delivering approximately 70,000 housing solutions through agencies including the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ). However, he emphasized that greater private-sector participation will be necessary to address the country’s estimated housing deficit of 150,000 units.
While acknowledging that many residents of informal settlements face genuine housing challenges, the prime minister argued that unplanned developments often emerge without proper roads, water systems, drainage networks, transportation access, or waste management services, creating long-term burdens for both communities and taxpayers.
He said these conditions negatively affect the quality of life for residents and can reduce national productivity by making it more difficult for workers to access basic services and reliable transportation.
According to Holness, individuals living in poorly planned communities often face lengthy commutes, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent public services, factors that can affect workplace performance and overall economic output.
The prime minister maintained that Jamaica’s housing strategy must focus on ensuring that the formal housing market expands faster than the informal market. He argued that increasing the availability of organized, affordable communities near economic centres and existing infrastructure will reduce the incentive for illegal land occupation.
Holness also challenged private developers to place greater emphasis on affordable housing projects rather than focusing primarily on high-end developments.
“Help us to provide housing for Jamaicans who are struggling to find homes and cannot afford the higher-priced options, but who may qualify for more affordable solutions with mortgage support,” he said.
The prime minister highlighted the Wick Hall Estate project as a model for future developments. The 36-acre residential community, being developed by Altruhomes, a member of the ARC Group, will deliver 221 housing units and include green spaces, recreational facilities, solar-ready homes, and solar water-heating systems.
Holness said developments of this nature are essential to improving living standards, strengthening communities, and supporting sustainable economic growth.
“The more communities are organised, the greater will be the productivity of the people,” he said.
The Government continues to position affordable housing as a key pillar of its national development strategy, with a focus on reducing the housing deficit, curbing the expansion of informal settlements, and creating better-planned communities throughout Jamaica.
