Kingston, Jamaica, 20 July 2026
Construction of bases and assembly of modular homes for families who lost their houses to Hurricane Melissa has started, the Government said this month, after a long period in which the programme was held up by site assessments and procurement.
In a statement issued on 6 July, the administration said around 1,500 modular units were already in the island, with a further 1,000 due to arrive by the end of July. It expects the building and assembly part of the project to be well advanced over the coming weeks and months.
Answering the Critics
The statement pushed back against Opposition criticism of the pace of delivery. The Government said it would not compromise on quality or safety and that every proposed site is checked to make sure it is suitable before work begins.
Officials attributed earlier delays to shipping problems around the Chinese New Year period and to logistics constraints, which they said have now been resolved. The administration accused critics of trying to sensationalise what it described as complex work driven by data.
Checks Before Keys
According to the Government, each site is evaluated to confirm land tenure and whether it can safely be built on. Housing bases are also assessed on a continuing basis to confirm they meet regulatory and environmental standards.
Cabinet minister Robert Montague was scheduled to tour western Jamaica to review progress on the ground, after a visit planned for the previous week was pushed back.
Why It Matters
Hurricane Melissa devastated sections of the island last October, leaving many families without a home. The start of assembly marks the point at which the modular programme moves from procurement and paperwork to houses that people can actually live in.
The emphasis on land tenure is significant. Families without clear title to the land they occupy may find it harder to qualify, because the Government has said it must confirm tenure before placing a unit. Households hoping to benefit should make sure any documents showing ownership or permission to occupy are in order, and keep in contact with their local agencies.
For the wider housing market, every family moved into a secure unit is one less household competing for scarce rooms and rentals in communities still rebuilding after the storm.
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