Dr Horace Chang, minister of Water and Housing, and Michelle Rollins, chairman of Rose Hall Developments Limited, signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of 130 acres of land, valued at US$1 million, at Rhyne Park, South in St James on Wednesday.

The property, which is owned by Rose Hall Developments, will soon be handed over to the Government, for the provision of affordable housing solutions for tourism sector workers and their families in the Rhyne Park/Rose Hall area.

Months of negotiations

At the signing ceremony, held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Montego Bay, Dr Chang said the joint-venture project came after months of negotiations. While not giving a date for the start of the housing project, the minister said the Government expected that the implementation phase of the venture would take place during the course of this year.

He expressed the hope that the venture would be emulated elsewhere.

"The Government has the intention of moving aggressively in the New Year to provide affordable housing solutions on the north coast, ranging from St Ann through Trelawny and into Montego Bay," explained Chang.

Rollins' contribution lauded

The minister also commended the "tremendous contributions" of the Rollins family to the development of Montego Bay and the tourism sector in general.

Rollins, in her remarks, said it was her desire to see "this undertaking becoming a successful model of private- and public-sector joint venture that will be emulated across the island".

She said that special efforts would be made to ensure that plans for the development covered infrastructural requirements, as well as residential solutions.

- JIS