KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has criticised the Government’s handling of recovery efforts, warning that thousands of Jamaicans remain without adequate shelter six months after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by the People’s National Party on Tuesday on the “post-Melissa housing crisis”, Golding said the administration had “dropped the ball” in managing the aftermath of the October 28 hurricane, which caused widespread destruction across the island.

His comments came hours before the Government was due to table legislation to formally establish the National Recovery and Reconstruction Agency (NaRRA), an entity intended to oversee rebuilding efforts.

Golding argued that while NaRRA is being positioned as central to recovery, it lacks a clear focus on the country’s most urgent need: housing.

“Tens of thousands of Jamaican families are living in a post-Melissa environment where they lack habitable shelter,” he said, describing the situation as “deplorable” and in need of immediate attention.

He made specific mention of the Government’s primary housing response, the ROOF programme, which he said is “hopelessly inadequate” and poorly administered. According to Golding, Members of Parliament have reported numerous complaints from constituents who either have not received promised assistance or have struggled to access it.

The Opposition leader added that the funding allocated, approximately $10 billion, represents a fraction of what is required, noting it amounts to less than one per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and only a small portion of available disaster financing resources.

Beyond funding concerns, Golding warned that the programme fails to promote resilient rebuilding. He said most beneficiaries, many of whom are uninsured, are receiving limited grants without technical guidance, resulting in poor reconstruction that leaves communities vulnerable to future storms.

“We are just repeating and compounding the lack of resilience in the housing stock,” he said.

Golding also made note of the system used to distribute assistance, stating that it is inefficient and inferior to mechanisms deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when grants were transferred more directly to recipients.

In addition to housing concerns, Golding raised alarms about the cost-of-living crisis, driven by rising global oil prices amid the ongoing war. He noted that fuel prices in Jamaica have been increasing steadily and warned that food and other essential goods are likely to follow.

He accused the Government of failing to outline any mitigation measures in the national budget, contrasting this with actions taken by other countries to cushion their populations.

Golding also pointed to the discontinuation of a previous oil hedging programme, which he said had acted as a financial buffer against price spikes, while a related tax remained in place.

“We are facing oil prices of over US$100 per barrel with no protection,” he said, calling the situation “deplorable” and urging the Government to explain how it intends to shield Jamaicans from rising costs.