Central Kingston’s housing stock in dire need of overhaul says MP Williams

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston Central, Donovan Williams, has acknowledged that “it goes without saying” that the constituency is in need of a massive housing overhaul. “Much of the housing infrastructure is ageing and is in urgent need of improvement,” Williams said Tuesday in the House of Representatives. The second-term MP was making his contribution to the 2026/27 State of the Constituency Debate. Williams shared that he has been making some progress in tackling the problem. He told the Parliament that through the New Social Housing Programme and building grants, several multi-family housing solutions have been constructed. The most recent construction has taken place in the East Palms Housing Development in Kingston Gardens, consisting of eight units which are now complete and scheduled to be handed over this month. Another 18 units located on Hanover Street in the Tel Aviv community of Parade Gardens are currently under construction. “Cumulatively to date, we have and will be providing housing solutions to approximately 40 families, and they can all be verified. While we welcome the programme, there are persons independently renovating and improving their housing structures,” said Williams. He lamented that one of the hindrances to housing solutions is the issue of land tenure, the regularisation of land titles being a critical matter. Williams told the Parliament that a large section of the constituency has already been designated an area under the Registration of Titles, Cadastral Mapping and Tenure Clarification Special Provisions Act, paving the way for systematic land titling. “We are therefore looking forward to an acceleration of this process in assisting residents with obtaining their titles,” he said while noting that this will have the effect of providing a catalyst for urban renewal and generational wealth creation. Williams also shared that several properties owned by state agencies have been earmarked for additional social housing developments. He said it was his belief that with a combination of private and government initiatives, there will be ongoing improvements to the housing stock in central Kingston. -Lynford Simpson