Minister of National Security - Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, CD, M.P.

 

A medical doctor by profession, Horace Anthony Chang, was appointed Medical Officer of Health for the parish of Trelawny, 1977. He, along with a team of doctors pioneered the development of a modern Public Health System for Jamaicans. This included the compulsory immunization of young children and the establishment of Type1, 2 and 3 Clinics in the parish. include, Stadium Gardens 2 & 3, Country Club 2, Palms of Portmore, Westmeade Willows, Hills of Boscobel and Luana Gardens. Meanwhile the Squatter Settlements Programme was upgraded with the construction of infrastructure such as roads, water and the installation of electricity with over 9,000 residents receiving certificates of title. 

In the Water and Wastewater Sectors, Minister Chang conceptualized the largest major water supply improvement system, the US$211 Million Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project (JWSIP). The project is aimed at providing an additional 20 million gallons of water per day to the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) as well as access to in-house potable water supply to a number of rural households. JWSIP also included the installation of over 70,000 customer meters to more accurately determine consumption, reduce commercial losses and boost revenue for the National Water Commission (NWC).

 In 2011, under Dr. Chang’s watch, the loan of US$133M was negotiated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the implementation of the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) Water Supply Improvement Programme. This was aimed at enhancing the efficiency, quality and sustainability of potable water services in the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA). 

During his tenure the Minister also pursued the successful completion of the US$87M Japanese Government funded, Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) Water Supply System to serve areas such as Greater Spanish Town, Portmore, Kingston and St. Andrew. In 2008, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Dr. Chang negotiated for a US$20M grant funding under the Caribbean Regional Fund for Waste Water (CReW) Project to rehabilitate and/or construct six wastewater treatment plants. He also resuscitated and commenced implementation of the US$37.76M Kingston and St. Andrew Water & Sanitation Projects for the Darling Street, Mona and Hope Treatment Plants and the rehabilitation works for 26 potable water facilities.

Additionally, eight (8) Rural Water Supply Projects valued approximately $200M were commissioned into service benefitting 21,340 persons in the parishes of, St. Catherine, Hanover, St. Mary, Clarendon and St. James. Dr. Chang brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to the Security portfolio. He has been married to Paulette for over thirty-eight years; they have two children, Melissa and Martin. He enjoys reading, playing dominoes and travelling around the island.