Home A WAY &
MARCH 2015
L SPECIA
l ISSUE 1
E:
FEATUR
NHT Diaspora e m Program
lBuying Land in Jamaica lVoluntary Contributions lVision 2030 lNHT on Wheels
AN NHT HOUSING MAGAZINE
Journey With Us, Conservative or Savvy Drop Your Anchor & Enjoy Peace of Mind
Patrick Burke General Manager
Anita Chong
Manager Treasury & Investment Relations
Gavin Francis
Senior Supervisor Pension Administration
Caring for You and Your Investments Suite 27, Winchester Business Centre 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10. Telephone: 876-908-1502 | 906-2375 • Fax: 876-968-3523 www.fhcinvestments.com • email: info@fhcinvestments.com
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE • PORTFOLIO PLANNING & MANAGEMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING • FIXED INCOME • STOCKS AND BONDS
3 4 8 10 14 17
Editorial Messages Voluntary Contributions Social Entrepreneurship NHT Profile
The Diaspora Giving Back to Jamaica
20 25 29 32
37 40 42 43 49 54 58 60
NHT on Wheels PIOJ Vision 2030 Buying Land from Overseas Emancipation Park The place of choice for relaxation “Home Sweet Home� NHT Happenings NHT Online Payment System Down Memory Lane NHT Diaspora Programme Feedback Spirit of Community Interior Design
DISCLAIMER: While making every effort to be accurate, the NHT will not be held responsible for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies appearing in this publication. The NHT cannot be held liable for the information by advertisers which are taken in good faith. The opinions expressed by the various contributors are not necessarily those of the NHT.
EDITORIAL
- The Editorial Committee
O
ne of the imperatives the information age has placed on corporate entities such as the National Housing Trust, is to use technology to keep in touch with their customers, as a deliberate business strategy. Information needs to be available in easily accessible formats as and where the customer needs it. We know that this is true for our contributors - past, present and future - whether they are at home or away overseas. We also appreciate that our contributors and potential contributors value information that’s accurate, relevant to their needs, easily comprehensible and time sensitive. Additionally, we are aware that by providing our customers with useful information, we can help to empower them to make important life decisions such as those related to home ownership. Home & A Way is intended to do this and more. This magazine was developed to connect with and engage Jamaicans at home and abroad with the work of the NHT. Through Home & A Way, we hope to increase awareness, build valuable relationships and make ourselves more relevant in effectively servicing your needs in relation to home ownership. But that’s not all. Through Home & A Way, we also want to help those Jamaicans residing in the Diaspora, to maintain cultural links with their homeland. And, whether you are now at home or away, we want you to see this magazine as part of our efforts to engage you in what we do, and to invite your feedback on how we can work to serve you better. The Home & A Way magazine must also be contextualized within the government of Jamaica’s wider developmental programme, and Vision 2030, which is to make Jamaica “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”. Our distribution strategy will ensure that the magazine is easily accessible. In addition to distribution online, via the NHT’s website: www.nht.gov.jm, Home & A Way can also be accessed through selected Jamaican businesses overseas as well as high commissions and consulates. For Jamaicans at home, limited copies will also be distributed through NHT offices. In this first issue of Home & A Way, we feature a profile on the NHT and how you can become a Voluntary Contributor to the Trust. We also introduce you to the NHT’s Diaspora Initiative, and provide valuable tips on buying land in Jamaica. In providing you with a varied information offer, this issue of the magazine also features Emancipation Park, a much admired beautiful and relaxing oasis in the heart of New Kingston. And, of course… there’s more to whet your appetite for things Jamaican. As you browse through the pages of the inaugural issue of Home & A Way, we urge you to savour the offer and share it with a friend. We also welcome your feedback on the magazine. So happy reading until the next issue of Home & A Way brings you more from the NHT and “the Rock”, in another six-months.
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CREDITS Editor:
NHT Diaspora Magazine Committee
Sales/Advertising: MAPCO Printers
Contributors:
Karen Booker Robert Buddan Richard Lumsden Dr. Henley W. Morgan Rick Nugent
Publisher:
National Housing Trust, 4 Park Boulevard, Kingston 5. Telephone: 929-6500 Website: www.nht.gov.jm
Design and Layout: Sutherland Wade Associates Ltd.
Printers: MAPCO Printers
Special thanks:
All our contributors and advertisers
All rights reserved. Permission from the publishers must be given in writing prior to reproducing any article within Home & A Way
Getting home is even easier with a mortgage from JN
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MESSAGES My Administration has placed particular focus on forging strategic partnerships with the Jamaican Diaspora and in facilitating constructive engagement with all our people overseas. We are doing this to achieve three major national priorities: sustainable economic development, poverty reduction and improved social well-being. The National Policy and Plan of Action on International Migration and Development, the Diaspora Advisory Board and other institutions/mechanisms introduced, demonstrate our commitment to partner with the diaspora community for investment, entrepreneurial activities and skills transfer. One of the exciting opportunities for the Jamaican Diaspora in this regard, is the opportunity to invest in the stock market here in Jamaica. I appeal to Jamaicans overseas to grasp this wonderful opportunity. However, it is not only in the economic arena that we as a government want to enhance our engagement with the Jamaican Diaspora. Equally important is the socio-cultural engagement to bring about improved relations with Jamaicans overseas and to remind them that ultimately, there’s no place like home. By accessing information in the NHT’s Home & A Way magazine you can benefit from maintaining ongoing beneficial linkages with your home country. The timing of the Magazine is also opportune given Jamaica’s progressive return to economic health and the confidence of our multi-lateral partners in the soundness of the country’s Economic Reform Programme.
PRIME MINISTER THE MOST HON. PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER, ON, MP
I
t brings me great pleasure to welcome and endorse the inaugural National Housing Trust (NHT) Diaspora Magazine, Home & A Way, which offers another channel for us to engage with Jamaicans in the Diaspora. I am pleased that the publication will also seek to connect with past, present and prospective NHT contributors here in Jamaica as well.
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I commend the NHT for continuing to live up to its reputation as one of the most successful and responsive post independent Jamaican institutions that impacts national life and communities, and which is giving practical expression to our national vision of making “Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”. It is my hope that Jamaicans in the Diaspora and here at home will find the Magazine informative and helpful in understanding how to access housing benefits and exploit opportunities for business and investment in our country. God bless you.
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE
THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION MR. ANDREW HOLNESS, MP
SENATOR THE HON. A.J. NICHOLSON, Q.C.
T
he National Housing Trust (NHT) was established in 1976 to “increase and enhance the available housing stock in Jamaica as well as to provide financial assistance to the most needy of our Contributors who wish to build, to buy or to repair their homes”.
During this period the Trust has funded thousands of mortgages totaling billions of dollars in keeping with its vision to “be effective stewards, caring for our contributors as we deliver housing solutions, build communities, refund contributions and influence the market to make housing more affordable”. And its mission to “be a role model among the world’s leading housing finance institutions, delivering affordable housing solutions in a service culture, with professional staff serving customers with integrity and excellence.” There can be no doubt that among the approximately three million Jamaicans living abroad there is substantial interest in owning a home “on the Rock”. This merits a closer look by the Trust at practicable ways to increase the contributions of these persons to the NHT towards building whether on own lands or on the open market. Good communications machinery with respect to essential feedback is necessary for the creation of any positive business relationship. It is this which leads me to support unreservedly the proposed semi-annual publication by the National Housing Trust of its new online magazine ‘Home & A Way’. If we are to increase the participation and maintain interest in the workings of the National Housing Trust, then comprehensive and wide-ranging information which can draw attention to the Trust and develop closer relationships with those at home and abroad, must be a priority.
I
am delighted to bring warm greetings to members of the Jamaican Diaspora worldwide, through this medium.
I also wish to commend the National Housing Trust (NHT) for launching a new online magazine, Home & A Way. This initiative will not only strengthen the organisation’s linkages to the members of the Jamaican community overseas but will also add a new dimension to its outreach programme. As many of you are aware, the NHT was established by the Government of Jamaica to lend money at low interest rates to contributors who wish to purchase houses or who buy or build on lots. This has enabled many Jamaicans to own their dream homes and for this, the NHT should be commended. In this information age, the NHT has leveraged technology to provide Jamaicans abroad with relevant, readily accessible information on home ownership and related services. It is my sincere hope that the Diaspora will take advantage of this resource and seize the opportunity to possess their very own piece of the “Rock.” The Government has placed great emphasis on its partnership with the Diaspora and, through the convening of the Biennial Diaspora Conferences and other initiatives, has been working with Jamaicans abroad for national development. Therefore, it is timely that the National Housing Trust is seeking to deepen its engagement with the Diaspora. This year, the Sixth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference will be held in Montego Bay from 13th -18th June and the NHT is one of the key entities that will partner with the Government to ensure the staging of a successful and meaningful Conference. Once again, I congratulate the NHT for launching this online magazine and I wish the organisation every success in its efforts to engage the Jamaican Diaspora.
I wish you every success.
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MESSAGES NHT CHAIRMAN HON. Easton W.X. Douglas, O.J., C.D., J.P. FRICS
G
lobalisation is not just a concept: it’s today’s reality, and organisations like the National Housing Trust (NHT), must respond positively to both the opportunities and challenges posed by this phenomenon. With access to state-of-the-art technology, distance is now irrelevant and markets are endless. The Trust must therefore take steps to reach out to Jamaicans everywhere and anywhere in the world that they may be. As a state-agency reporting to the Office of the Prime Minister, the NHT must also be supportive of national developmental policies and programmes. This includes initiatives in which the government has identified and is working with Jamaicans in the diaspora to engage them in the country’s development. It also includes us at the NHT contributing to the goal of VISION 2030, namely, to make Jamaica “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”. We know that in our attempts to establish relations with Jamaicans overseas, communication must be an integral part of this effort. This is one of the driving forces behind the launch of the Home & A Way magazine. Through this medium, we at the NHT hope to establish a two-way information flow between ourselves and Jamaicans in the Diaspora, some of whom may now be voluntary NHT contributors, while others may be past or current contributors, or even NHT mortgagors. With this magazine, we also want to reach prospective contributors. The Home & A Way magazine is but one arm of a wider Diaspora Strategy the Trust is developing and which we hope
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to launch at an early date. Other elements of the proposed NHT Diaspora Strategy include the possible offer of property services and gated communities. Our ultimate aim is to help you maintain ties with “the Rock” in a tangible and beneficial way. I am confident that this can be done through the mutual collaboration and sharing of ideas, which Home & A Way will facilitate. In concluding, I would like to borrow from a well-known phrase which says “mighty oaks from little acorns grow”. The NHT is indeed testimony to this phrase. From relatively humble corporate beginnings in 1976, when the seed for the Trust was planted, the organisation has blossomed and bloomed into an institution of which Jamaica and Jamaicans, can be proud. Since inception, our asset base has grown to reflect prudent financial management. Our contributor-population, range of products and social and community outreach programmes have grown exponentially as well. Today, we are both a unique post-independent success story and a transformative entity in the life of the thousands of Jamaicans we serve, both at home and abroad. To Jamaicans here and in the Diaspora, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural edition of Home & A Way: a magazine developed just for you. May you find useful information in these pages to help meet your housing and related needs.
President, JAMAICA ASSOCIATION FOR THE RESETTLEMENT OF RETURNING RESIDENTS
ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR Mr. MARTIN MILLER
MR. Percival A. LaTouche
W
elcome to the National Housing Trust and the publication of our first housing magazine “Home & A Way”.
Our motto “Out of many, one people”, speaks to inclusiveness despite diversity. In today’s business environment, organisations are faced with another form of diversity, namely that brought about by migration and must embrace this concept of inclusiveness as a sound business strategy. The fact that some three million Jamaicans are now living in the Diaspora, demonstrates that our country has truly evolved into a borderless one. It follows therefore that orgranisations such as the NHT must be inclusive in their corporate strategy, regardless of where Jamaicans are residing today. We must embrace our Jamaicans in the Diaspora as customers and business partners if we are to achieve both our corporate and larger goal of national development. As our contributors and our nation continue along the pathway to growth and advancement, we must be proactive in our efforts to remain relevant and responsive to their new and emerging needs, while exercising prudent financial management of the funds entrusted to us. As a result, we at the NHT have conducted research and are now fine-tuning a set of initiatives that we hope will connect with Jamaicans in the Diaspora, but importantly, help them to connect with their homeland. These initiatives will include property services and housing products to cater to their specific needs and publications such as this magazine you are now reading: “Home & A Way”. Over the next issues, this magazine will be a pulse in preparing you for homeownership in Jamaica. Perhaps much has changed since your last visit, and so we hope our magazine will keep you up to date with all you need to know about home, while you are away.
T
he Jamaica Association for the Resettlement of Returning Residents (JARRR) congratulates the National Housing Trust (NHT) on the launch of its housing magazine. The development of this product is a bold move by the Trust which the JARRR views as an opportunity to better connect with Jamaicans overseas and keep them informed about all matters relating to housing. We are particularly heartened by this initiative given our own efforts to serve returning Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora. Over the last thirty-two (32) years, the JARRR has been steadfast in our own mission to promote Jamaica as the place of choice to live among Jamaicans overseas. To date, we have reaped significant success by facilitating the effective return of thousands of Jamaicans to the island by providing them with critical information and liaising with private and public sector orgranisations including the NHT. The implementation of a magazine which provides relevant, accurate and current information on housing is therefore viewed as an endorsement of the efforts of the Association and will go a far way in augmenting our capacity to effectively serve the housing needs of our members. The JARRR therefore gives its full endorsement to the launch of the NHT’s housing magazine and encourages all returning residents to make maximum use of the information that each issue will provide. We also commend the NHT for its continued efforts to make Jamaica the place of choice to live by promoting, providing and facilitating housing among all its contributors both at home and in the Diaspora. I wish you every success.
We are very excited about the Diaspora market segment and look forward to the deepening and strengthening of the partnership and engagement of this group. We encourage you to contribute to the NHT and partner with us as we work to make Jamaica the place of choice to live. H O M E & A W AY
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NHT Feature
Voluntary k Contributions kk
R
achel journeyed from Jamaica to Canada in pursuit of love. The euphoria of romance blinded her to the realities of living in a new country. Memories of life in the tropics pervaded her. She thought about the possibility of purchasing a home in Jamaica, one that she could often visit with her family, giving them a true Jamaican experience. Through the National Housing Trust (NHT), Rachel’s
considerations quickly became a reality.
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Owning a home in Jamaica while living overseas
or debit card, via a building society registered
may seem like a far-fetched goal, but not for
in Jamaica or by mailing a cheque to the NHT.
Rachel. “I was preparing myself mentally for a challenge, but it was honestly very easy.
As an NHT contributor, you are able to access
It also helped that the Customer Service
housing loans of up to J$1.5 million (if you
Representatives were so professional and
already own residential property in Jamaica) or
hospitable.” Rachel quipped.
up to J$4.5 million if you do not own residential property in Jamaica. In addition to housing
Persons contributing to the NHT from overseas are called “Voluntary Contributors”.
benefits, contributors are entitled to access a refund (with interest) on payments made to the Trust.
l
It was necessary for Rachel to be registered as such. Persons wishing to register may visit the company’s website -
www.nht.gov.com/overseas-contribution - where they will be required to download and fill out a Declaration of Income form and Questionnaire. Other requirements include your National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and Tax Registration Number (TRN) cards, a copy of a valid identification and a passport size photograph, a birth certificate and proof of income. These documents must be signed, stamped and dated by a Notary Public and may be mailed or hand delivered to the Compliance Department of the NHT. The registration process also includes a face to face or telephone interview by the applicant or an authorised representative. Rachel made her payments each month by using a standing order at a bank in Jamaica. She also had the option of paying online using a credit
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NHT Feature
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
building the new Jamaica Dr. Henley W. Morgan
P
eople use the two words, “entrepreneur” and “social” all the time. It’s less common to see them used together as in ‘social entrepreneur’. The simplest, and simplistic, meaning of
social entrepreneur is one who uses business ideas and approaches to solve social problems.
The late
management guru Peter Drucker put it this way: “the social entrepreneur changes the performance capacity of society” in seeking to solve those problems that threaten human well-being: problems that neither business nor government can successfully tackle on their own.
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(Pictures above) Trench Town residents construct a greenhouse for vegetables The need for social entrepreneurs is driven by
which breeds dependency, to hand-up, which
endemic poverty, environmental catastrophes,
empowers people to be self reliant.
disease
epidemics,
human
rights
abuses,
educational backwardness, and run-away crime
The National Housing Trust (NHT), while
the world over. These perennial problems are
remaining true to the Act that established
threatening to undo the gains from advances in
it and committed to its contributors, has
science, technology and many other fields.
been a facilitator of the trend toward social entrepreneurship taking hold in Jamaica. In her
Never to be left behind, Jamaica is going the
budget presentation for the Financial Year 2013
route of social entrepreneurship. The Trench
– 2014, Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller
Town based Agency for Inner-city Renewal
announced
(AIR)
Social
to be implemented by the NHT as part of its
Entrepreneurship and Equity (I-SEE), which is
overall social development programme. NHT is
offering a Masters in Business Administration
partnering with organizations involved in social
(MBA) degree in Social Entrepreneurship in
entrepreneurship, like AIR, as it seeks to provide
partnership with the International University
not just housing solutions through initiatives
of the Caribbean (IUC). The University of the
such as the Inner-city Housing Project (ICHP) but
West Indies (UWI) has established its own
also to develop economically sustainable and
Institute for Social Entrepreneurship. Corporate
viable communities; so that Jamaica will indeed
foundations like Scotia Jamaica Foundation,
be the place of choice to live. l
established
the
Institute
for
the
Entrepreneurial
Challenge
Jamaica National Building Society Foundation and Digicel Foundation are moving away from a purely charitable or philanthropic model to one emphasizing the tenets of social entrpreneurship; in essence going from traditional hand-out,
Contributor: Dr. Henley W. Morgan is a Management Consultant with overfor 20Rachel years experience in Jamaica It was necessary to be registered and the Caribbean and has achieved recognition as such. (Persons Development wishing toSpecialist register and maya as an Organization visit company’s skilledthe Human Resourcewebsite Development professional. H O M E & A W AY
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National Housing Trust: Housing Independent Jamaica
I
n 1976, the government of Jamaica established
contributors have received housing benefits, and the NHT
the National Housing Trust (NHT) to improve the
has developed over 94,000 housing solutions. More than
supply of housing and to promote efficiency in
85 housing schemes have been built by the NHT across
the housing sector. The Trust was a response to
Jamaica. The Trust has also contributed to increasing the
a need for shelter, particularly among low wage
housing stock through its Interim Finance Programme.
earning Jamaicans, most of whom did not have the
Under this initiative, both private and public sector housing
collateral to secure mortgages from established financial
developers can access construction funds at interest rates
institutions.
that are lower than going market rates.
The concept was that all working persons would contribute
In the process, the Trust has facilitated skills development
to the Trust, and having met specific conditions, would
and the creation of jobs in the construction and allied
become eligible for low interest rate loans to buy, build
industries. The NHT is committed however, not only to
or repair houses.
The Trust would also increase the
housing Jamaicans but also to the development of vibrant,
availability of affordable houses by building schemes and
self-sustaining communities. Thus, the Trust works to build
financing construction by private developers.
community leadership, strengthen civic organisations and foster civic pride through initiatives such as its Best
Today, the NHT is the premier housing finance institution
Schemes Competition, the Entrepreneurial Challenge and
in Jamaica and the single largest provider of housing in
the Music for Social Transformation Programme.
the Caribbean. The Trust is also a remarkable testimony of what can be achieved through strategic partnerships
Through its Citizens’ Charter, the Trust commits itself
across the Jamaican economy. Partners include employers,
to excellent service characterized and influenced by its
whose contributions augment those of the employees and
values of professionalism, accountability, caring, integrity,
self-employed persons in funding the NHT’s operations,
excellence, innovation and teamwork. The NHT holds pride
housing finance institutions; developers and a range of
of place as an employer of choice and as an outstanding
service providers in the spatial planning and construction
customer service organization within the public sector, and
industry.
continues to attract highly competent and qualified staff.
The NHT’s impact on the national economy has been
Among the coveted awards the NHT has received over the
meaningful and far reaching. Since 1976, over 180,000
years are:
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Over the years, the NHT has implemented a series of policy measures, and modified its programmes and procedures, all in the interest of being able to serve its contributors more
l The Prime Minister’s Trophy for the Best Public sector entity (multiple locations), in 2006, 2011 and again in 2013 l The Caribbean Employers’ Federation award for Innovative Human Resource and Industrial Relations practices, 1998 – 1999 l The Jamaica Employers’ Federation award for public sector leadership 1999 – 2000 l Jamaica Employers’ Federation’s Employer of Choice 2013 l Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica Innovator Award 2014 l The CVM People’s Choice Award for Most Admired Entity 1993-1998 t
efficiently. Today, contributors can access loans to buy, build or repair houses, or to buy land. Among the many NHT loan types are the Open Market, Scheme House, Serviced Lot, Build on Own Land and House Lot loans. Solar Water Heater, Solar Panel and Home Improvement loans are among the others. The NHT’s suite of services includes online scheme applications, online payments of mortgages and contributions and electronic mortgage statements. It also offers a mobile service to rural Jamaica through its NHT on Wheels unit. Firmly committed to a customer satisfaction philosophy, the NHT continues to exercise flexibility and be proactive in its drive to keep the hope of affordable housing alive for its over 400,000 contributors.
l
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NHT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hon. Easton Douglas CHAIRMAN
Hon. Daisy Coke DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Sen. Lambert Brown
Mr. Robert Buddan
Mr. O’Neil Grant
Mr. Clayton Hall
Pastor Michael H. Harvey
Mr. Norman Horne
Ms. Sonia Hyman
Mr. Percival LaTouche
Mr. Vincent Morrison
Sgt. Raymond Wilson
Feature
The Diaspora Giving Back to Jamaica – Enabling a Nation’s Transition with a Vision
W
- by Rick Nugent
henever the term Jamaican
outreach projects in times of great social need as
Diaspora
many
well as issued millions of dollars in educational
persons think of Jamaican
grants and scholarships as well as medical
born
individuals
supplies. The organization also maintains a positive
in
foreign
is
used,
residing and
image of Jamaica among potential investors and
contributing heavily to the
promotes locally beneficial trade and business
inflow of remittances to family and friends back
opportunities. Some of the most notable outreach
home. At the National Association of Jamaican and
projects include the establishment of JAMAL, now
Supportive Organizations (NAJASO) we have long
Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL)
realized that the role of the Jamaican Diaspora and
and the provision of relief support in the aftermath
its relationship to Jamaica extends beyond this
of Hurricane Gilbert.
a
country
extractive concept. Despite the extensive work of the Association there Having recently concluded the institution’s 37th
is still more to be achieved. Currently NAJASO is
anniversary under the theme - Transition with
in transition mode in order to better address the
a Vision, it is increasingly evident that the role
growing social needs in Jamaica. This transition
of the Diaspora is far more critical to the overall
must include the increased commitment of the
development and growth of Jamaica and its
Diaspora in exploiting all opportunities to give back
transition to Vision 2030 than popular opinion or
to the nation.
perception. Taken together, this unified transition will go a far NAJASO is a non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt
way in helping the nation toward becoming “the
umbrella association of Jamaican and Supportive
place of choice to live, work raise families and do
Organizations across Jamaica, the US and the wider
business”. l
Caribbean working together to address the needs of borderless Jamaica. Since its inception in 1977, the organization has
Contributor: Rick Nugent is the President and CEO of the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations, (NAJASO).
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NHT Feature
NHT on WHEELS service at your doorstep
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A
dvancements in technology have
for them have another meaning; a business on
revolutionised how Jamaicans do
wheels. It’s a model the NHT has added to its
business. Those in urban towns
suite of services.
who are always on the go, have found comfort in mobile business
A 2013 survey found that certain sections of the
which usually comes in the shape
population especially those in rural areas which
of a smartphone app. While NHT has changed
could contribute to, and benefit from the NHT
its business model with the introduction of
are currently under-served because of limited
services such as online payments, online scheme
access to the Trust despite having a branch or
applications and online refunds to meet these
service centre in every parish. Self-employed
growing trends, not all customers have been
persons especially those in rural Jamaica
bitten by the technology bug. Mobile business
however found it hard to reach the main towns.
continued...
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NHT Feature The NHT is not leaving any of its customers behind. Now, the NHT travels to its customers. The unit branded, ‘NHT on Wheels: service at your doorstep’, operates as a mobile office, with the full gamut of services including primarily targeting new business such as self-employed registration. The Trust retrofitted a bus to accommodate two work stations which can seat two customer service representatives and four customers simultaneously. Local customers certainly appreciate the service. Birdie Thompson-Martin a resident of Gayle, St. Mary said “This is a good initiative- If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, take the mountain to Mohammed” when the mobile unit visited her community. And the NHT is sure to find many more Miss Birdies as the unit travels the breadth of the Jamaican rural landscape making over 40 stops in communities between June and October, 2014. Already it has been to Gayle in St. Mary, Cambridge in. St James, Clarkes Town in Trelawny, Llandewey and Dalvey in St. Thomas, Junction and Black River in St Elizabeth Alligator Pond and Christiana in Manchester and Kellits and Lionel Town in Clarendon reaching thousands of customers. Truly, the NHT is not only thinking outside the box but thinking outside its branches.l
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For Customers who can’t reach our office, the office travels to them.
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EXPERT Article
Jamaica, the place of choice to live..
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EXPERT Article
Planning Institute of Jamaica
(PIOJ) Vision 2030
T
his ambitious yet eminently achievable vision was born out of the dreams and aspirations of all Jamaicans across the length and breadth of the island, during an extensive, collaborative, and inclusive bi-partisan nation-wide consultation amongst a broad range of stakeholders who participated in its formulation. This national engagement process resulted in the delineation of the nation’s ambition into four national goals:
These goals underscore the recognition of the interdependencies of the various facets of national life: economic, social, environmental and governance in a sustainable model of development if Jamaica is to become “…the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”.
On Being the Place of Choice...
Jamaicans migrate for many and varied reasons. These include: perceived improvement in standard of living; lack of opportunities (jobs, education, economic); belief that “the grass is greener on the other side”; family reunification; security and safety issues. So, what would make Jamaica the preferred place to live for Jamaicans? And why would non-Jamaicans make this country their preference? A generalized list of preference/ choice determinants/characteristics/ variables to consider, may be drawn from the reasons people leave and therefore includes: love of country/ patriotism; place affordability; standard of living; quality of life; taxes,
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employment opportunities; affordability of real estate/housing; crime rates & statistics; proximity to family and friends; climate; education system; healthcare facilities; food & culture; easy access to desirable locations internally and externally.
definition of target groups; and mechanisms for security of tenure.”
Examination of the National Goals and Outcomes of Vision 2030 Jamaica indicates that Jamaicans have determined, through the consultative process, that these and other variables are critical for achieving this subcomponent of the long-term vision: “ Jamaica, the place of choice to live…” and ultimately the overall vision.
• Is an important part of national infrastructure and pivotal to social development, national competitiveness and economic growth.
Housing: A Fundamental Component of Vision 2030 Jamaica…
Under Vision 2030 Jamaica, the importance of housing to achieving the national vision is
Vision 2030 Jamaica recognizes that housing: • Is a social good, access to which promotes individual and collective dignity, privacy and security.
• Has an impact on poverty alleviation, and environmental management.
Vision 2030 Jamaica also embodies the concept that shelter represents a broad continuum of affordable and appropriate housing options related to the income of target groups. This is articulated in the framework that outlines strategies to address a wide range of issues to accelerate the delivery of housing that: • • • •
is affordable meets demand identifies housing finance contributes to achieving Vision Jamaica 2030
encapsulated under Goal # 4, in National Outcome #15 and National Strategy: 15-5,
Sustainable Urban and Rural Development– Ensure Safe, Sanitary and Affordable Shelter; and in a specially prepared Housing Sector Plan that benefitted from a similar consultative formulation as the National Plan. As articulated in the Housing Sector Plan, the Vision for the Housing Sector is that, by the year 2030, every Jamaican will be living in a well-constructed dwelling unit that is safe, sanitary and affordable and in an inclusive and aesthetically pleasing community. Consequently, housing provisions are now being guided by: affordability criteria; criteria for allocation and access, which will involve the
continued...
2030 Housing… Vision for olds h e an hous All Jamaic able, d r o ss to aff e c c a e v a h al te and leg appropria vable, li in s n ptio housing o d n clusive a vibrant, in pleasing ally aesthetic ies. it commun
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EXPERT Article
Selected Sector Strategies:
• Integrate national housing and urban development planning to enable access to adequate shelter and services to all • Locate housing settlements in areas that minimize vulnerability to natural hazards • Ensure access by all communities to a minimum standard of support services and amenities, including potable water, sewerage and waste disposal services
Progress on our journey to becoming the “place of choice to live…” is being tracked annually, so that we can “take stock of where we are and see how we can improve or stay on track”. This is being accomplished through a range of indicators and targets for each of the 29 sectors under Vision 2030 Jamaica. Every three years we set priorities and ensure their implementation through the Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) and the sector plans. However, if we are to make our national vision a reality we all need to play our part in its implementation, monitoring and evaluation. l
• Strengthen housing and infrastructure financing through partnership arrangements from public, private and individual sources • Develop alternative housing types and construction techniques that enhance the long-term usability and affordability of housing • Develop housing opportunities for those with specialized needs
Achievements of National & Priority Housing Sector include: • Completion of the first draft of Jamaica’s long term national housing policy • Implementation of various housing solutions, particularly low income houses— led by the National Housing Trust and Housing Agency of Jamaica • Preparation of a National Squatter Management Policy Concept Paper • Introduction of new Mortgage Partner policy by the NHT
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Text by: Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat maica Planning Institute of Ja .jm ov j.g pio Email: ndp@ a.gov.jm www.vision2030jamaic m/ .co www.facebook vision2030ja Twitter: @ndp_2030
EXPERT Article
step by step guide to
Buying land from OVERSEAS Part 1
Most Jamaicans who are living in the Diaspora have a desire to return to Jamaica and enjoy their retirement in their dream home. Some prefer to buy land and design their own architectural wonder.
i
n deciding on location a purchaser is influenced by many factors. Many persons are more comfortable with the familiar; hence, they choose to buy land in the vicinity where they have roots. Some persons rely on the advice of persons who have already
relocated. Many rely on real estate professionals to make recommendations. Persons while outlining their requirements with regard to location should before committing themselves, take to visit the location. Visit the proposed site during the night, when it rains and on weekends. Gloria Brown, Attorney-At-Law, with decades of experience in conveyancing provides some advice to purchasers. “The age of the purchaser should be an important factor. Hence, older purchasers should consider purchasing property in areas continued...
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EXPERT Article
where there are medical, security, recreational
and Commissioned Land Surveyor will be
and other social services. Terrain of property,
employed.
as well as accessibility to all parts of the property must be considered. Purchasers should avoid remote and undeveloped
Jamaicans in the
areas particularly in new subdivisions where
Diaspora can and are
benefitting
lots rather than houses are sold resulting in construction crews and vacant unkempt lots
from NHT loans.
which can impact security�, she said. Purchasers should also consider if, after living
An up-to-date NHT contributor may apply for a loan to purchase land being sold by private individuals or a company.
in England (for example) for 40 years, they can comfortably exist in the heat of the capital as against the cool climate of some rural areas. Does the purchaser want to have land space to establish a small farm or kitchen garden, or has intention to operate a business which makes zoning a consideration? Resale value is also of importance as in many instances challenges may arise resulting in the purchaser’s return to the country from
Jamaicans in the Diaspora can and are
which they located.
benefitting from NHT loans. A purchaser who is an up-to-date NHT contributor, may apply
Ms. Brown advises that if the purchaser is
for a loan to purchase land being sold by
having difficulty in identifying a property to
private individuals or a company. The process
be purchased consideration should be given
of applying is fairly simple but there must be
to securing the services of a real estate agent
a registered title for the property, a signed
who will match the needs of the purchaser with
sale agreement, a valuation and surveyor’s
a property. Having identified the property, an
report on the property and the receipt for the
Attorney-at-Law skilled in conveyancing/land
deposit paid on the land before an interview
law should be identified. The Attorney will
can be scheduled with the National Housing
advise at what stage the services of a Valuer
Trust.
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The purchase of land is one of the most important decisions a person will make in his or her lifetime, so much effort and thought must be given to such a venture. It is wise to use the services of experienced professionals who can guide one through the process as they move one step closer to acquiring their dream home.l
C
M
Y
CM
MY
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CMY
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Feature
EMANCIPATION park: The place of choice for relaxation
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T
he steady thumping of joggers’ feet ushers in the new morning at Emancipation Park. A rare jewel in the heart of the city, it is a refuge for many who seek solitude and a soothing ambience. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the New Kingston business hub, this “Jewel of Nature” brings with it the peace and tranquility that we often need. Nestled cosily amongst the towering hotels, Emancipation Park, or E-Park as it is affectionately called,
stands proud as a symbol of Jamaica’s rich history. Nature lovers have been known to bask in the Park’s scenery. Its perimeter is lined with tropical flowers and trees such as the majestic Royal Palm, its branches stretching outwards beckoning to the skies. The most endearing feature of the Park, however, is the beautifully crafted 11ft bronze sculpture “Redemption Song” monument by celebrated Jamaican sculptor, Laura Facey. The black male and female statues gazing to the skies grace the ceremonial entrance of the Park, an artwork celebrated by art lovers and critics alike. Architect Kamau Kambui describes the design of the main gate, located at the corner of Oxford Road and Knutsford Boulevard, as depicting “the birth passage and the process of travelling back to our roots”.
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Feature Emancipation Park features many other
the world to visit and host various ceremonies,
influences of Afro-centric designs, hence the
events and private gatherings.
significant presence of Adinkra symbols from West Africa being sited throughout the Park.
Its flowers have been featured as the back
The opening of Emancipation Park in July
drop of photographs for many beaming
2002 is a significant milestone in the journey
newlyweds, while its well-manicured lawns
of our nation. The Park was created to be a
have played host to many picnics and lunch
symbol of our Freedom: to Hope, to Excel
dates, and its benches have provided rest to
and to Be.
the feet of many weary travellers.
Since its opening, this tropical oasis has
E-Park also lays claim to other useful and
attracted and retained thousands of visitors
important facilities. It has transformed itself
each year. The picturesque characteristics of
into a wellness centre. Its recently renovated
nature such as the park’s lush green grass,
500m track has been a hit amongst joggers
exquisite gardens boasting exotic flowers and
and fitness enthusiasts who may be spotted
plants, and its tranquilizing water features,
as early as 5am making their way around the
have invited citizens from all over Jamaica and
Park. There are other newly added sporting
a “Jewel of Nature” . g Nestled cozily amon towering hotels,
Emancipation Park or E-Park as it is
affectionately called, mbol stands proud as a sy of Jamaica’s
rich histor y.
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facilities that non-joggers can enjoy. You can
The next time you’re in New Kingston with a little
work up a sweat while serving up a competitive
time on your hands, stop by this tropical oasis.
game of table tennis or challenge your brain and
A warm welcome awaits you. l
game partner on the board to a game of chess. A fun game of ‘Hop Scotch’ easily bring children together or as it has been known to do, bring adults on a journey of nostalgia down memory lane to their days as children. The business community has also benefited as well from the facilities of the Park which has played stage to many corporate events such as the annual Sigma Corporate Run for charity now in its 17th year.
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Feature
HOME SWEET HOME
Robert Buddan
A
lmost everyone leaving Jamaica has thought they were just going away to work and save enough to come back home and build their house. Owning a house has been a dream for many Jamaicans; a dream that goes deep within our past. Whatever the immediate reasons for a Jamaican to go overseas, such as to work or study, the medium and longer term prospect has been to save enough to come home and buy or build a house of their own. A house is a matter of pride and a mark of success. Many have indeed come home and built their house. Almost everyone in Jamaica has a parent, an uncle or aunt, a brother, sister or cousin who has done this.
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Feature
the ‘MYTH of RETURN’ - migrants did not in fact go back home...
However, some studies of migration began to speak of the ‘myth of return.’ They found that many migrants did not in fact go back home. Whether they really intended to or not, they stayed in their host country to live. But while some did fulfil their dreams and returned home, the dream of returning remained alive among those who did not, even if it was just a dream. The memory of home kept burning in their hearts. The novelist, John McCloud once said that, “home is to occupy a location where we are welcome, where we can be with people like ourselves.” Jamaica wants to send this very message to the Diaspora. They are welcome at home where they can be with people like themselves. What Jamaica has done and has gone further than many countries to do is provide the opportunity of partnering with the National Housing Trust to build a house and return home. For example, there is no comparable organisation to the NHT in the rest of the Caribbean. There need not be a myth of return for Jamaicans.
“This is Jamaica... My Jamaica.” 3 8 H O M E & A W AY
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“HOME is to occupy a location where we are welcome, where we can be with people like ourselves.”
The NHT goes further than any housing institution to make owning a house in one’s home country a reality compared to what you will find in most countries. Based on the NHT’s islandwide character, financial resources, scope of operations, size of clientele, number of housing solutions, diversity of designs and schemes, range and quality of services, managerial expertise, and reputation, there is nothing that matches the NHT in most other countries. We like to say, “This is Jamaica…My Jamaica.” Many Jamaicans went overseas to make a life for themselves but this is still their Jamaica. Now they can come home and own a house. The dream of return can become a reality instead of a myth. Those who have had bad experiences sending money out to private contractors won’t have to worry. The NHT intends to assist with all aspects of purchase, legal services, design, location, construction and site management. It is a one-stop shop for housing. It cuts out many costly intermediaries and time-consuming personal management. This is a great opportunity for those in the diaspora to come home with the NHT.
l
Contributor: Robert Buddan is an NHT Board Director and a former lecturer of Political Science at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
NHT News
NHT happenings...
2. (Above) Prime Minister
1. Prime Minister Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller hands over a letter of possession to Vaughnette Boothe, a beneficiary at Sandhills Vista, Hellshire.
Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (second right) breaks ground for the construction of 32 expandable units in Majesty Gardens. Also participating in the ground breaking are Minister with responsibility for housing Hon. Dr Morais Guy (right), NHT Chairman Hon. Easton Douglas (left) and NHT Acting Managing Director Martin Miller (second left).
3. (Left) Prime Minister Most Hon. Portia
Simpson Miller and Member of Parliament for North West Manchester Mikael Phillips are introduced to the services of the new NHT Mobile Unit, NHT on Wheels, launched in April 2014.
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4.
(Right) NHT Chairman Hon. Easton Douglas gets a warm embrace from Denise Jeffries as she receives keys to her unit at Sandhills Vista, Hellshire.
5. (Below) Megan Swaby bursts into praise,
shouting “HALLELUJAH�, as she receives keys to her unit at Sandhills Vista, Hellshire from NHT board Director Pastor Michael Harvey.
6.
(Above) A view of the model unit for FIRST STEP HOMES at Hampden Housing Scheme in Trelawny.
7.
(Right) YUTE BUILD Chairman Joseph Matalon (second left), NHT Chairman Hon. Easton Douglas (centre) and Education Minister Hon. Ronald Thwaites (second right) are flanked by YUTE BUILD participants at the signing of an MOU for the second phase of the programme which will see inner-city youth being trained in construction and development courses.
NHT Feature
NHT OnLINE payment system
S
Bridging the Distance
ometimes Daphne Goodall can’t believe how easy it is to do business in Jamaica from her home in Birmingham. She migrated to the UK nearly 25 years ago and still remembers how challenging it was to do transactions such as making the monthly payments on the house she had bought in Jamaica using a loan from the NHT. “I tried sending the funds to relatives who didn’t seem to have a sense of urgency, sometimes they didn’t make the payment until two months later and of course I was being hit with late fees” she said.
“We have a small but important contributor and mortgage population overseas and these facilities are a big help to them. Of course, they also make life convenient for our contributors at home in Jamaica” says NHT’s Senior General Manager, Customer Relations Management Dr. Lanie-Marie Oakley Williams.
Now with the rapid changes in technology, Sister Daph as her friends call her, makes her mortgage payments via the NHT website, using her credit card.
www.nht.gov.jm.
The online payment facility for mortgages and selfemployed contributions is just one of the facilities that the NHT has introduced in recent times to help clients access the Trust’s services. Some years ago the Trust also introduced an online application system for contributions refunds. Over 120,000 contributors in Jamaica and abroad now use that facility.
To use the online payment facility whether for voluntary/self-employed contributions or for mortgage payments, persons must have a Visa, MasterCard or a local NCB Keycard. They can then register to pay at the NHT website: As Mrs. Goodall discovered, not only can she make her own payments, but by registering her brother’s mortgage account information, she can also make payments on his behalf. In order to make her own payments however, she had to bring her account up to date as the system is set up to accept only current loan or contributions payments. It does not facilitate payments for arrears or sums intended to reduce the principal balance. Immediately upon payment she receives a receipt and the accounts are credited within 24 hours or on the next business day if made on a Friday, over the weekend or on a public holiday. Thrity-nine percent (39%) of the users of the system are living overseas, confirming Mrs. Goodall’s assessment that “The NHT online payment system has really bridged the distance.” l
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Feature
h
h
Wattle and Daub Housing
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Feature
Wattle and Daub Housing: A look at our past
J
amaica’s landscape is dotted with beautiful homes across the country. Some are multi-storey imposing structures surrounded by landscaped grounds. Others are the more unassuming bungalows nestled among mature trees. In between these lavish dwellings are the modest but respectable houses of the working class professionals of varying sizes, shapes and styles. Good quality housing was not always an achievable dream for the ordinary Jamaican. Indeed, in this area of national life, we have come a long way as a trip down memory lane will remind us.
centre pole surrounded by a circle of shorter posts fitted with wild canes and vines from which the walls were made. The roofs were made of grass and palm leaves. Inside the huts, the floor was beaten earth.
When Christopher Columbus landed here in 1494 he saw Arawaks living in huts along the coastal areas. The huts consisted of a tall
The days of huts were far from over in Jamaica. Fast-forward to the 1600s. Two hundred years of British Slavery had begun.
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The first houses of the Spaniards who later settled here were built of wood, mud and thatch. These were eventually replaced by brick or cut-stone houses with tiled roofs. Spanish walling was very common which consisted of timber frame with a stone and mortar filling. This technique is still used to construct housing in Jamaica today.
The sugar estates boast the Great Houses of the planters that were strategically located on a hill overlooking vast estates. On these estates were the huts of the slaves. They were made of posts driven into the earth and walls made of wattle and daub. Thatch, shingle or the tops of sugar cane were used for roofing. Like the huts of the Arawaks, the floor was beaten earth. According to the publication From Caves to Castles: A Look at Housing in Jamaica, “these dwellings formed a sort of village with a family occupying each hut”. The wattle and daub structure identifies the owner as belonging to the rank of the lower class whether as a slave, freed black or poor coloured. Around 1744 similar structures to
those found on the estates started becoming a popular sight on the periphery of major towns. These settlements attracted urban slaves and runaways. A law was passed in that year requiring fences to be built around clusters of more than four houses thus introducing the concept of ‘yards’ in towns. A visitor to the island in 1808 described the houses as ‘vile hovels and disgraceful sheds’. The wood or wattle and daub structures were dark, damp and under-windowed leading to poor ventilation. The yard concept of urban slaves can still be seen in the housing arrangements in some urban settings. The tenement yard concept would have had its origin in the 1744 law that created the ‘yard’ in urban settings.
(Picture below) An example of Wattle and Daub housing
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Feature
More than a century later, nothing had changed. The appalling social conditions that persisted gave rise to 1934-35 labour unrest not just in Jamaica but across British Caribbean territories and influenced the imperial government to dispatch a royal commission led by Lord Moyne to investigate and report on the situation in the territories. Some members of the Commission toured sections of Kingston including Trench Town, Back-o-Wall, Callalu Alley, Dung Hill and Smith Village and reported that the housing and living conditions of the people were “deplorable, disgusting and depressing.” One Commission Member, Dr. Mary Blacklock remarked “I do not see how general health conditions can be improved until the housing problems are dealt with” (Gleaner, November 7, 1938) Today, wattle and daub houses are rarely seen in Jamaica. The country has performed creditably over the years in the area of housing. This is evidenced by the consistent improvements that have been recorded in the Housing Quality Index (HQI) which measures the following indicators to assess adequate dwelling:
4. Number of persons per habitable room. Jamaica uses the international benchmark of 1.01 persons or fewer per habitable room.
The HQI stood at 60% in 19971, 68.1% in 2007 and 71.5% in 20102. In terms of housing units built, data show that between 1955 and 2002 143,877 housing units were built in Jamaica.3 The National Housing Trust alone has provided more than 94,000 housing solutions to contributors since it was established in 1976. The work of the National Housing Trust when appropriately located within historical context must be seen as an attempt to fundamentally change the economic and social fabric of a society that has been created on the foundations of slavery and colonialism. Next time you admire one of Jamaica’s sprawling mansions or the well built modest houses of the working class it is worth reflecting on the long journey from the wattle and daub hut that we used to call home. l
1. Material of outer walls 2. Main source of water 3. Source of lighting and toilet and kitchen facilities
1 2 3
PIOJ, Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, pp. 5.1 Ibid. pp. 260
Bertram, Arnold, Munro, Trevor: Adult Suffrage & Political Administrations in Jamaica 1944-2002, Ian Randle Publishers, 2006
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Symbols of our history Jamaica’s history is a long and colourful one. Elements and symbols of this history have at some point in time had a defining impact on our individual lives. Here are a few pieces of our rich history sure to bring to remembrance childhood stories on this trek down memory lane.
k Yabba k
n o r I Coal
gins e its ori v a h o t n said pular i hich is o w p n o ly r i g l asin The coa hey e incre m a c n era. T e o b i t , a a p i n i c an ed in Ch Post Em then us e h d t n a n i s a coal Jamaic made glowing n o s were d n e t o r a i e h e l, , som were charcoa d s. Later l e o h h t o d l l c at cou to iron erior th t n i w o l ol hot. with a h he iron t p e e k ould which w
A yabba, an earthenware vessel of West African origin, was used for a wide range of domestic purposes, especially for storing water, cooking and serving food. Various types and sizes of yabbas were once made. In Jamaica, yabba refers to the large glazed clay bowls used for mixing cakes and puddings as well as for seasoning and salting. Yabbas have been in use in Jamaica since the seventeenth century.
continued...
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k
Coconut Brush
ll with husk Who knew a dried half coconut she from Coir (the can be used to buff floors? Made t) the dried fibre from the husk of the coconu n floors after coconut was used to brush woode . the red floor polish was applied
k Home Sweet Home
Lamp
This is a kerosene lamp which uses a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe called a shade usually imprinted with the words ‘Home Sweet Home’. The lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may be used for portable lighting. They were useful for lighting especially in rural areas but also were handy during power outages such as after a storm. Don’t be surprised if many Jamaican homes still have one which they pull out from time to time. 4 8 H O M E & A W AY
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NOW...
k
then
Clothes Lin e Then Clothes . e L..in
Many of us may be more familiar with the image on the left, a modern day clothes line , usually as an annex to a wash area. Rew ind a few decades though and the image on the right was far more popular. That clot hes line was usually made with a bit of electric wire strung from one tree to another with a bamboo pole in the middle to support the weight of the clothes. The pole was used to hoist the clothes in the direction of the sun for easier drying.
NHT Feature
The NHT Diaspora
Pr ogramme
S
ince 2003, the Government of Jamaica has been purposeful in its efforts to engage the Diaspora and in 2011 took a major step to commence the development of a national Diaspora policy. This policy speaks to the formalization of the public, private and non-government agency engagement of the Diaspora for the advancement of Vision 2030 - making Jamaica “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business�. It is natural then, that the NHT as one of the leading public sector entities with a focus on housing, would seek to be a major facilitator of realizing a national vision by deepening and strengthening our engagement with Jamaicans in the Diaspora. continued...
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NHT Feature
Over the last five years the NHT embarked on an in depth study of the needs of all customer segments including contributors residing in the Diaspora. This study provided the NHT with insight as to the invaluable opportunities to improve our offerings to all our contributors, particularly those in the Diaspora who, based on their physical location, found it challenging to effectively interact with the NHT.
The findings Contrary to the belief that the Diaspora constitutes persons who were born in Jamaica but left to reside in another country, our study revealed that the Diaspora is a much more diverse group. The Diaspora comprises approximately three (3) million documented individuals including second and even third generation Jamaicans and non-Jamaicans or the affinity Diaspora who help out during times of national crisis.
Within these overarching segments there were those who wish to return to Jamaica to live either permanently or for a short term period and who are interested in acquiring or constructing their homes prior to their return. A second group included the philanthropists who did not merely want to be engaged for their monetary contributions but also for their expertise and knowledge in areas that could help to advance the nation. Within the broader Diaspora market segments we were also able to identify those who were interested in viable local investment opportunities.
The NHT’s Response the NHT Diaspora Programme In response to the findings, the NHT has implemented additional toll free telephone lines for customers residing in the United Kingdom and Canada and online facilities to allow for convenient payments and customer
JAMAICANs
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service. We have also managed to forge some critical stakeholder alliances within the Diaspora.
construction, access affordable housing designs and oversee the construction of their homes.
In addition to these improvements, the NHT will be launching our Diaspora Connection Programme. This programme is comprised of 4 major initiatives that will better serve the Diaspora segment and also produce significant benefits to local contributors and the wider Jamaican citizenry. These initiatives, some of which are in the planning stages, include the NHT’s property services, gated communities, a housing magazine and a Centre of Excellence.
This offering is expected to make the process of resettlement and acquiring property in Jamaica much more efficient, safe and convenient for persons both at home and in the Diaspora.
1. NHT’s Property Services
The NHT’s Property Services include a suite of services to aid customers to; effectively identify properties, assess the suitability of these properties for the purpose of
2. NHT Gated Communities The proposed gated communities’ concept includes the development of luxurious residential areas. These communities will also feature secure, upscale units on large land spaces surrounded by or built within close proximity to well-developed amenities including health, recreational and commercial facilities. These properties will be financed and constructed through public and private partnerships with investors both locally and internationally particularly those who are continued...
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NHT Feature
interested in commercial ventures and medical tourism. This offering will allow the NHT to expand its offerings to persons over the age of sixty who are looking for retirement options and for returning residents who are demanding increasingly smaller units and increased security.
3. The NHT’s Online Housing Magazine- Home & A Way This magazine will serve to keep the Diaspora up to date on the offerings of the NHT as well as provide tips and articles to guide all contributors and in particular those in the Diaspora who do not readily have access to up to date information on housing. The magazine will be a repository for information on how to acquire, improve and maintain property in Jamaica as well as effective building methods and practices.
k
It is anticipated that the magazine will be of particular interest to investors as it will also feature upcoming developments and give both local and international companies the opportunity to promote their offerings.
4. Centre of Excellence The migration of skilled experts to the Diaspora is seen in many circles as a drain on the country’s intellectual capital. However, at the NHT we view this as an opportunity for national gain. The NHT’s Diaspora Centre of Excellence initiative will therefore focus on engaging philanthropists in the Diaspora who may not wish to contribute monetarily but instead want to give back their expertise and knowledge to help advance various initiatives targeted at community and national development. Using virtual facilities and where possible face to face interaction, the NHT will seek to bring together local and overseas experts to discuss continued...
Using virtual facilities and where possible face to face interaction, the NHT will seek to bring together local and overseas experts to discuss a myriad of topics...
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The implementation of these four initiatives is expected to positively impact the customer satisfaction levels among members of the Diaspora as well as augment the NHT’s capacity to better serve all contributors both at home and away in the Diaspora. At the NHT we look forward to the Diaspora’s interest and participation in all four initiatives as we continue to make our impact on Jamaica’s efforts to become “the place of choice to live, work raise families and do business”. l
Trained Roof Crew
DAY
The expected benefits
1
Very safe air and living space fogs and baits
Walls & Furniture Detail Crew Special air/skin safe formulas
DAY
2
Expert Floor Crew
DAY
3
FREE ESTIMATES!
Inner floor & outer trench subfloor chemicals and pegs
DAY
4
Trees & Fences Outdoor weatherresistant formulas
Company Service Warranted Packages Living Room* Bedroom* Kitchen* Each Tree
Base & Roof Base & Roof Walls & Cabinet Formula & Bait
$18,000.00 Lrg. $8,000.00 Lrg. $8,500.00 Lrg. $4,500.00 Lrg.
$12,000.00 Sml. $6,500.00 Sml. $6,000.00 Sml. $3,000.00 Sml.
Full Jobs Discounted (Base J$15-J$65 per sq. ft.) Costs do not include GCT *Serv. Min. Chrg. Formulas are premixed. Full Jobs 1-4yr warranty.
Carib Pest Control & Pesticide Health Consultants Ltd. Kingston – Digicel 402-3448, LIME 816-5455 Land Line 620-6925 & 969-7645 • email: www.pestpagesja.net
Portmore 988-7378
Mandeville 962-7378
St. James 952-7378
Portland 993-7378
St. Thomas 983-7378
NHT Feature
FEEDBACK k YOUR SATISFACTION: OUR GOAL At the NHT we are delighted to serve you, our contributors, especially since we are contributors ourselves.
We thank you for your ongoing feedback: compliments, commendations and
complaints as these give a reference point to which current and potential contributors can gauge the advantages and benefits of selecting a specific product or service. Here are some of the recent comments made by our contributors/mortgagors overseas: “I must first say many thanks for all the lovely work that the team of the National Housing Trust have been doing over these many years. My primary officer is S. McDonald and it is always a pleasure to call or to write. I have been making regular contributions and now look forward to applying for a loan. Thanks NHT."
- Annette TB - Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 1TX. England “Before migrating, I was unsure of how to service my NHT mortgage account while abroad. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that I had the option of paying my mortgage through NHT Online. NHT made paying my mortgage easy, and that is what good customer service means to me.”
- Rayon March Mount Vernon, New York, USA “NHT makes it easy and convenient for customers to contact them from overseas via their toll-free numbers and e-mail facilities. I am very pleased with the excellent customer service that NHT has provided consistently over the years. The officers are professional, friendly, and helpful. I highly recommend NHT to Jamaicans living abroad. Thanks for the great service!” - CCP, Houston, Texas, USA
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“After encountering some challenges with registering for NHT’s Online facility I made contact with the NHT and spoke to Customer Care. The young lady asked me some questions and made some suggestions about how to continue the process. I was able to see the payment history and also verified my account that it was debited with the said amount. Thank you once again NHT for your excellent customer service.”
- Nicole GB Hartford, Connecticut, USA
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you!”
Call Centre: Opening Hours (UtC/GMt -5 HOUrs) Mon – Thur: 7:30am – 5:00pm Fri: 7:30am – 4:00pm Tel: 929-6500 – 9 toll Free 1-888-CALL-NHT (1-888-225-5648) 1-888-991-2185 – 7, 1-888-991-4249 1-800-858-3219 (USA & Canada) 442-0351-48816 (UK) CUstOMer Care Dept.: 754-7086, 1-888-991-2232 Website & live CHat: www.nht.gov.jm eMail: wecare@nht.gov.jm sOCial MeDia: FACEBOOK: /TheNHT • TWITTER: @TheNHT • BBM: 25C61F5D or 25C61F31
Proudly Presents
An exclusive gated community at Drax Hall. St. Ann Just 10 minutes away from the resort town of Ocho Rios.
www.kemtekjahomes.com
Model Units open daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Project approved by: St. Ann Parish Council (November 2012) Real Estate Board (March 2013) Mortgage Financing by: National Housing Trust Jamaica National Building Society Victoria Mutual Building Society National Commercial Bank Scotia Jamaica Building Society Attorneys-at-Law: Nunes Scholefield DeLeon & Company Shope 6E Pompano Commercial Complex, Tower Isle P.O., St. Mary Phone: (876) 975-4576, (876) 975-4762 Fax: (876) 975-4794 sales@kemtekjahomes.com
In House Features:
Development Amenities:
French Windows Solid Wood Cabinets in Kitchen & Bathroom Granite Counter Tops 20x20 Porcelain Floor Tiles Stone Coated Metal Roofing Solar Water Heater Paved Driveway
Club House Swimming Pool Multi-Purpose Court Children’s Play Area Parks
NHT Feature
K R A P E L L I V LONG ...made f or success!
i
t is known as the community where a group is formed for every activity that takes place there. But this is no ordinary community – It is Longville Park – a former national champion of the National Housing Trust’s Best Schemes Competition.
But that is no idle talk. Founding member and two-time president of the Citizens Association, Baldvin McKenzie is quick to tell every one of the pride and the unity that exists in the community. “It comes through the many programmes that encourage community participation and voluntarism”, he said. It is that spirit of community that spawned groups such as Youth Club, Sports Club, Taxi Club, Health Club, Environment Club, the Culture/Theatre Movement, the Neighbourhood Watch, the Citizen’s Association, and Kiwanis Club. And yes even the Church members have a Minister’s Fellowship.
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“It comes through the many programmes that encourage community participation and voluntarism”
Longville Park at only ten years old is a new and vibrant community located south west of Old Harbour and near the border of Clarendon and St. Catherine and home to over 10,000 persons. A development of 3,500 housing schemes, it is one of the largest single housing projects in the island. “This is indeed a place of choice if you are looking for somewhere to live and raise families. The community is safe, there is unity and we are within reach of major towns such as May Pen and Old Harbour. And to top all of that, the tranquil scenery and the setting provides the best view of the Caribbean Sea,” McKenzie beamed as he gathered his documents in preparation for an executive meeting of the umbrella groups that represents the ten sectors that make up Longville Park. Longville Park is not all about local governance as it continues to tackle issues that affect the wider communities such as social welfare and development and even the environment. Members of the community’s environmental club are strong advocates of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (CCAM).
Community Spirit
developments. It is at those workshops that community members start developing bonds. Those many visits, post-occupancy meetings, long nights and continuous capacity building exercises coupled with the facilitation of training and the identification of projects and programmes for the benefit of residents has channelled Longville Park to become an influential group in the region. It is to the many groups formed in the community that credit may be given for its high level of achievements. A community sports day held on Easter Monday each year, rivals any major sporting event for the huge turnout. Christmas Eve brings about Traditional Grand Market flair to the shopping centre. Added to Longville Park’s growing list of activities is its own Fashion Night Out among other established calendar events such as GSAT Workshops, their ten-sector Christmas Tree Lighting competition, Cheer-leading competition, jogging trail activities and the enormous lobbying efforts to get their own Community and Computer Centre. l
As a policy, the Trust through its Social Development Department carries out what is known as pre-occupancy workshops for new
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Feature
The DeZign Divas tips for the WOW factor, (small yet powerful
changes to transform your space and your life) - by Karen Booker Decorating can be both challenging and overwhelming but a well thought out plan and steps to follow will assist tremendously in arriving at show stopping results. So whether it’s a living room make over or an entire home, there are some fundamental basics for creating a space that you must follow.
Know your style, traditional, contemporary, transitional
Points to Consider: •
Walls - Color and texture
•
Types of Flooring -
•
Furnishings –
Hardwood, tile, polished concrete or carpeting. Clean understated lines or Heavily carved
• Lighting – energy efficient, dramatic or basic •
Plants and accessories -
types of Indoor plants and accessories that personalize a room.
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Included in your decorating should be a plan for a wonderful mix of the following – 1. Glass - a table 2. Wood - a wood chair 3. Fabric -
accent pillows and window treatment
4. Metal -
accessories
5. plants, and texture
leather or organic material will make your space a show stopper.
1.
All spaces require a focal point. The eyes need a space to rest when viewing a room, without a focal point the room seems to be missing the mark. Create a focal point by using an interesting piece of furniture, artwork dramatic lighting, shelving or a plant. Dare to step out of your comfort zone and be bold.
2. Walls
and big upholstered pieces such as sofas should be neutral; adding colours in your accent pieces like throw pillows, occasional chairs and artwork. That way, colour is added without creating a cluttered look.
3.
One way to focus your decorating on details and texture is to repurpose and re-imagine pieces. Seeing old furnishings in a new light can unleash your creativity and create one of a kind furnishings.
4.
Arrange furniture into smaller groupings. You can create the illusion that there are separate areas by arranging your furniture strategically. Use two small couches, loveseats, or arm chairs to box off a “living-room” area. Point them toward each other and place a small coffee table in between them. continued... H O M E & A W AY
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“Anchor� furniture using rugs, sofa tables, shelves, or wall art. Anchors help your apartment look more organized, and make the furniture arrangement feel more natural.
Understand that decorating is about you and your home and has a story to tell about your life. Keep your home clean and organized, functional and always chic! And of course, have fun. l
5.
Happy Decorating!
Get rid of unnecessary items. Your home should only contain your must-have items. Properly store clothing, shoes, and paperwork in dressers, closets, desks, and closets. You can also use baskets and boxes to store your items. If you are low on closet space, then use your walls as storage. Utilize shelves to store books and picture frames.
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DeZign Diva
Contributor: Karen Booker is a returning resident and interior decorator. She is CEO of Karen Booker Design Group.
Home Awaits You! ...and NHT is here to help.
Ph: 876 929-6500-9 Toll free: 1-800-858-3219 (USA and Canada) 44-203-514-8816 (UK) Email: wecare@nht.gov.jm Website: www.nht.gov.jm
National Housing Trust, 4 Park Boulevard, Kingston 5, Jamaica, WI
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