ORACABESSA, ST. MARY: Monday, December 21, marked an important day in the lives of many home seekers in Oracabessa and surrounding areas of St Mary.

Life has been breathed into a former Operation Pride development. Water and housing minister, Dr Horace Chang, was on hand to help break ground on the Eden Park project, which he said had a particular focus.

Chang, who was guest speaker, told those present that the project was part of efforts to focus on building homes where jobs were available, especially in areas where many persons work in the hotels and resorts nearby.

"It is my intention to provide affordable housing solutions for working Jamaicans, giving them the means to own legitimate property," said Chang.

The construction of Eden Park was stopped in 2001 because of insufficient funds, but was resuscitated through the representation of MP for western St Mary, Robert Montague.

According to Joseph Shoucair, managing director of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), the choice to restart the project resulted in an increase in the prices of the lots.

Shoucair said if the prices were not increased, the project would have had to be shelved.

The HAJ's managing director also revealed that persons from Operation Pride would have first rights to purchase the lots.

126 serviced-lots

He also noted that "if there are lots which cannot be purchased by those original Operation Pride contributors, those lots would be sold to the general public".

The development, the fifth to be undertaken by the HAJ since the start of the year, will consist of 126 serviced-lots, equipped with the necessary infrastructure; roads, electricity and water as well as recreational and commercial areas.

Shoucair said the $50.18-million project, is scheduled to be completed in six months.

- Lisia Lynch