JAMAICA | Opposition Demands Clarity on Social Housing Ownership Rights Amid Growing Concerns

KINGSTON,  Jamaica, February 6, 2025 - A brewing controversy over the ownership rights of social housing beneficiaries has sparked national concern, as Opposition spokesperson Natalie Neita Garvey challenges recent statements by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie regarding property inheritance rules.

The dispute erupted following McKenzie's post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, where he reportedly suggested that houses provided under both the Poor Relief Act and the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) would revert to Municipal Corporation ownership upon the beneficiary's death – a claim that has sent shockwaves through affected communities.

"The legal status of these homeowners must be clarified," Neita Garvey insisted in a statement today, pointing to growing confusion among recent housing recipients who find themselves caught between contradictory government messages and their original understanding of the program's terms.

According to the Shadow Minister, legal advice indicates that the reversion rule applies only to houses built on vested pauper lands, not to all housing grants as implied by Minister McKenzie. Properties constructed on privately owned land or land with legal usage rights would be exempt from this regulation.

The Shadow Minister explained that her advice was that indigent housing provided to registered poor or paupers on the roll only reverts to Municipal Corporation ownership if constructed on vested pauper lands. However, the Minister’s statement implied this was the case for all housing grants.

She further noted that this rule does not apply to individuals who receive houses on their own land or land owned by others but are legally permitted for use.

The controversy has now extended to the New Social Housing Programme, administered by the Prime Minister's Office, where similar beneficiaries are expressing mounting anxiety about their housing security. The situation has prompted calls for the government to provide a comprehensive public outline of the rules governing these housing provisions.

Taking a firm stance on the issue, Neita Garvey voiced strong opposition to any policy that would strip housing rights from vulnerable populations. "The Opposition is firmly against houses being taken away from the elderly, registered poor, indigent individuals, or anyone on the paupers' roll," she declared, warning that such actions could leave surviving family members facing homelessness or destitution.

The dispute highlights a growing tension between social welfare objectives and property rights in Jamaica's public housing sector. As beneficiaries await clarification, the debate raises broader questions about the long-term sustainability and fairness of current social housing policies.

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