As the Government advances its Shelter Recovery Programme, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Montague, on Thursday October 22, 2026, inspected housing sites in St. Elizabeth, where foundations are being prepared for containerized housing solutions for residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
The visit followed similar inspections in Trelawny and Hanover on Tuesday, October 20.
Minister Montague emphasised that the housing solutions are being designed with strong foundations, to allow beneficiaries to expand their homes as their needs and resources permit.
“We are building resilience. We are building for the future,”, he stated, adding that the programme goes beyond providing immediate shelter, giving affected families a secure starting point from which to rebuild and improve their living conditions over time.
“We want to ensure that what we have contracted is what the people get, and that we get value for money,” he noted.
Works across the sites visited ranged from foundation excavation and septic tank preparation to site clearance, with further reinforcement, inspection and concrete works to follow.
The St. Elizabeth component of the Shelter Recovery Programme, being undertaken by Southland Construction Limited under a contract valued at approximately $494.8 million, provides for about 125 semi-permanent housing solutions. These comprise 58 National Housing Trust (NHT) one-bedroom units with extended living and dining areas and 67 Chinese housing solutions.
The programme aims to provide safe, suitable and fit-for-purpose accommodation to approved beneficiaries affected by Hurricane Melissa and other approved disasters.
Minister Montague thanked the contractors, workmen and residents for their cooperation, reiterating the Government’s commitment to ensuring that construction meets the required standards and that beneficiaries receive quality housing.
He said the ongoing site inspections were critical to monitoring progress, maintaining accountability and ensuring value for money as families work towards rebuilding their lives.
