A contract, valued at $155.9 million, was signed recently between the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MOAF) and Alcar Construction and Haulage Company Limited for the provision of 39 housing solutions for the relocation of sugar workers to Spicy Hill (Steelfield) in Trelawny.

Under the project, implemented by the Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry, through its Barracks Relocation Programme, it is expected that construction of 22 units will be completed by September to facilitate the relocation of 22 of the 39 families.

Speaking at the contract signing, held at the offices of the Trelawny Parish Council in Falmouth, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke noted that ground was broken in November 2012 for infrastructure works at the Spicy Hill site, which is one of seven resettlement projects planned to upgrade the quality of life of persons living in sugar estate barracks.

"The dwellings are to be provided at the rate of one building per family, including toilet and cooking facilities. The land space will be adequate for housing as well as small-scale economic activities. The size of houses allocated will vary based on the size of families to be resettled. The proposed form of tenure is freehold with a restriction on sale or transfer of properties for a minimum period of five years after resettlement."

With funding from the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture's programme for the development of sugar-dependent communities seeks to support the recovery of the sugar-cane sector and to support improvements to the social and economic infrastructure in sugar dependent areas. Projects include cane-roads rehabilitation, drainage projects and projects to improve clinics, schools and sports facilities.

"Over the period 2013, to the end of calendar-year 2014, we have made provision to resettle some 876 residents of sugar estate barracks islandwide in some 400 housing solutions at seven relocation sites in four sugar parishes. The estimated total cost of this project is J$1.9 billion," Clarke said.

Also speaking at the event, member of parliament for the area (North Trelawny), Attorney General Patrick Atkinson, welcomed the provision of the houses, identifying the beneficiaries as people who had built the economy of the country.