OPPOSITION senators have raised concerns that some Jamaicans left homeless by Hurricane Melissa may struggle to benefit from the Government’s modular housing plan, highlighting that affordability, land tenure and construction failures could undermine recovery efforts.

The concerns were brought to the fore during last Friday’s sitting of the Senate — the first since the September 3 General Election — as Education and Information Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon delivered a ministerial statement outlining the Government’s response to the devastation caused by the Category 5 storm.

In her response she reiterated that, as part of the Government’s response to the widespread housing loss in western Jamaica, the National Housing Trust (NHT) will purchase 5,000 container-style modular homes for affected residents.

She also reiterated that the Government will instil a national building grant programme, along with additional NHT assistance — including moratoria, low-interest loans and targeted grants — tailored to specific parishes and eligible beneficiaries.

However, Opposition senators argued that the scale of destruction requires far clearer guidance on who will qualify for these interventions and whether the most vulnerable households — particularly those in informal settlements or without stable income — will be able to access them.

Senator Floyd Morris stressed that rebuilding support must match the realities faced by thousands of families who lost everything.

“There are 135,000 buildings that have been estimated to be affected in the hurricane and…I want to point out that for many of the homeowners, they have invested in their houses based on their life savings, some through partners and some borrowed money from the NHT, etcetera, and other financial institutions…I hope that we are going to see a significant effort in terms of assisting the homeowners across this country in terms of rebuilding their houses,” he said.

Morris also pointed to newly built developments that suffered major damage, questioning what protections exist for buyers who have not yet moved into their homes.

“I went and visited one of the housing developments that was recently constructed in Edmund Ridge [Estates, Montego Bay, St James,] and I was amazed at what I saw…and while members would be curious as to how I saw what I saw…I’m wondering what is going to happen to those homeowners who paid for the houses, never moved in, and what is going to be the recourse for those individuals, and are we going to see the contractors stepping up to the plate to repair those damages that were done to the houses in that particular development,” said Morris.

Turning to the NHT’s modular housing initiative, he asked the minister to clarify how contributors will be able to fully utilise their loan entitlements. He noted that the modular units are expected to cost around $6.5 million, yet NHT contributors are eligible for up to $13 million.

“I want to find out if, when they get these funds to purchase one of these modular homes, a contributor, will they be able to access the other portion of our funds to, say for example, engage in expansion of those homes over time? Because I understand that the units, the modular homes, are up to 430 square feet,” Morris asked.

He also highlighted long-standing weaknesses in the country’s building oversight systems, arguing that poor monitoring has contributed significantly to the scale of destruction across several parishes.

“A lot of what we have seen happening across the island…are attributed to poor construction,” he said, insisting that the Government must “strengthen those mechanisms going forward” to ensure Jamaica can “build back better and stronger”.

In the meantime, Senator Kisha Anderson added a human dimension to the debate, emphasising the daily hardship faced by displaced families — particularly women caring for children in waterlogged and unstable conditions.

“Every day I go to my bed I think about the people, the mothers in particular…who wash their children’s clothes and then rain comes again the next day and they’re wet, and they have to start all over. So I don’t know what is the immediate plan to help to alleviate some of that pain,” she said.

Anderson questioned whether persons who have lost their livelihoods could realistically purchase the modular homes.

“As it relates to the container housing, I heard about it being houses for purchase and I’m wondering how some of these people who lost their income would be able to purchase, even with help from the NHT. I don’t know if special consideration should be made for how they can actually qualify,” she queried.

Senator Dr Maziki Thame further pressed the minister on the issue of land tenure, arguing that recovery planning must take into account the realities of informal settlements. She pointed out that many residents in parishes such as Westmoreland rely on board structures because insecure land arrangements discourage permanent investment.

“What considerations are being made for the high level of informal communities, what we call squatter communities, in terms of this issue of land tenure and building standards, as indicated?” asked Dr Thame.

Responding to the series of concerns, Minister Morris Dixon acknowledged the challenges and reiterated that the matter of land tenure is actively being reviewed.

“That’s actually something that has been discussed, and Minister [Robert Montague] has that task in terms of looking at land tenure,” she said.

She also clarified that while some modular homes will be sold through the NHT, some will be free under the Government’s social housing programme.

Turning to construction standards, the minister reinforced the Andrew Holness-led Administration’s commitment to improving oversight.

“We have to have stronger building standards. I know in education we already created one late last year, and we are ready to roll that out, but the World Bank is reviewing it for us…The key thing is about enforcement, and you are absolutely correct, and we’re going to have to enforce it, and I think this Administration is committed to doing so,” she said.

MORRIS…I went and visited one of the housing developments that was recently constructed in Edmund Ridge and I was amazed at what I saw (Photo: Naphtali Junior)