MONTEGO BAY, St James — S Hotel has launched an ambitious humanitarian drive to construct 60 one-bedroom houses, valued at more than $21 million in total, for people in western Jamaica who lost their homes during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The project, dubbed ‘S for Shelters’, is being spearheaded by the hotel as part of its commitment to assist with national recovery efforts. The goal is to get the houses built and occupied in time for Christmas.

“This initiative is very important to us. It is very important to our hearts. We really want to ensure that Jamaicans, especially with Christmas fast approaching, that they have a roof over their heads,” said hotel manager and Brand Ambassador Andres Cope.

He explained that the initiative was born after the hotel began receiving emotional messages from its clients overseas.

“We started getting calls from our guests saying that they felt guilty to travel knowing that Jamaica was devastated. This is just our way of contributing and assisting those who are without; and I would say it is a heart-warming initiative… As a Jamaican-owned hotel, it’s important for us to give back to those who are in need,” Cope told reporters at S Hotel Montego Bay on Tuesday.

As he spoke, workmen were busy putting finishing touches to two of the houses in the car park. The units are made from lumber.

Cope revealed that the hotel has already delivered three of the houses — two in Hartford, Westmoreland, and another in Black River, St Elizabeth — and construction is underway on two additional units. He said the aim is to complete at least two to three homes per day as the team works swiftly to help families before the holiday season.

Recipients are identified through information provided by S Hotel employees who live in affected areas and personally know individuals who have lost their homes.

“We know that there are persons, especially a gentleman who is paralysed, who lost everything; he was the first recipient of one of these shelters,” Cope said.

“Information comes to us daily and we will do our part to ensure that we are delivering these homes to persons who are really in need, especially our team members too, who lost everything during the storm,” he added.

According to S Hotel Projects Manager Tardo Nelson, each of the sturdy 10×12 units is built to last at least a decade with proper care.

“The longevity of it really depends on the personnel; how they care it. We forecast that they can last about 10 years or more if you continue to oil paint, water paint, do the necessary areas, this can serve for a while. This one is also a much stronger and sturdy house than most of the regular board houses that you normally see around the place,” Nelson said.

He added that the hotel’s projects team has become highly efficient, completing two houses within 24 hours.

“We have a team called the projects department; these guys are very swift,” Nelson said proudly.

The initiative has inspired guests, some of whom have rolled up their sleeves to assist the construction teams.

Mike Vanbuskirk, a self-employed visitor from Florida, said helping to build homes has been a meaningful experience.

“I am glad to be here, first, and to help in the rebuilding process as a tourist, as someone who is actively helping building homes for people that have lost everything. And so it is with a great deal of compassion [that I help]. I have been to Jamaica before, I know the resilience of the people, and again I am proud to be here and to be a part of the rebuilding,” he said.

Vanbuskirk added that he felt confident travelling to Jamaica after the storm, noting the hotel’s resilience and commitment.

“It really comes down to confidence, ultimately. Knowing S Hotel and the kind of people that they are is also critical in the rebuilding. The fact is, they never were closed and… I have a great deal of confidence in coming here and feeling safe,” Vanbuskirk stressed.

Among other guests on hand were Tim and Marva Joseph, retirees from York Town, Virginia, who praised the hotel’s consistent communication during and after the hurricane.

“This hotel has an excellent social media page. From the beginning of Melissa they kept everyone updated. I would check it constantly. They were current; I could see the resilience. We made a commitment to come and support. We never cancelled. We made the reservations months ago,” Tim said.

He and his wife said watching the homes being constructed in the hotel’s car park has been heartening.

“It’s very exciting and it shows how unselfish this corporation is and how important it is to support the local population… We won’t take any credit for anything other than coming here and supporting as much as we can,” Tim said.

Tardo Nelson, projects manager at S Hotel, giving an update on the home building initiative. (Photo: Horace Hines)

Andres Cope, S Hotel general manager and brand ambassador, says the initiative was born after the hotel began receiving emotional messages from its clients overseas. (Photo: Horace Hines)

Some of the S Hotel workers who are helping to build the houses. (Photo: Horace Hines)