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Shelter
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 What is the general situation
with these ISSUES?
- According to the 1996 National Land Policy document, 50 to 75%
of all development takes place outside the formal regulatory or
economic sector.
- Land and housing have become less affordable for most people
because of the high interest rates affecting both construction
financing and mortgage rates and because their income has not
kept up with the increases in land prices, building materials
and the construction costs in general.
- More people are squatting on marginal lands such as wetlands,
steep slopes, gully banks and even gullies themselves. All these
areas are unsuitable for housing or cultivation.
- Some of the best agricultural lands are also preferred for housing
developments because they typically are flat and cheaper to build
on. Such lands are especially vulnerable to development when they
are near cities and towns.
- The high incidence of rural to urban drift both reflects and
results in a lower level of investments, facilities, and amenities
in rural areas.
- Rural settlements are small and scattered, reducing the opportunities
for social services to be efficiently provided.
- Expansion of sewerage works in Negril (5 Million Gallons per
Day), Ocho Rios (4 MGD) and Montego Bay (10 MGD) will increase
total waste water collected to approximately 30% of that generated
(NWC).
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