Ever thought about how Central Kingston came to be? After the great earthquake destroyed Port Royal, the people who lived there went to what is now Central Kingston to rebuild. Over time, this area became the heart of economic activity, attracting Jamaicans from across the island who came in search of work and a better life. But while the population grew, housing and infrastructure could not keep up. What followed was generations of people living in overcrowded tenement yards, with no title, no ownership, and limited opportunity. Even today, many families occupy properties without legal documentation, unable to upgrade their homes or pass them down. Some structures are over a century old. Some have no known owners. Many are caught in the cycle of poverty and neglect. But the value is still here. Central Kingston has paved roads, water, electricity, and sewage systems already in place. What it needs now is investment and vision. This government is committed to restoring that vision through a major urban renewal programme. Through the NHT’s Small Developers Programme and the New Social Housing Programme, we are creating affordable housing solutions, securing homeownership for working families, and making space for mixed-use development that reflects how the community actually lives. We are not just building houses. We are rebuilding a legacy, restoring dignity, and bringing Central Kingston into the future it deserves.(Andrew Holness)