KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Government has announced that the construction and assembling phase of the modular housing programme commenced last week and is progressing.

The government in a statement on Monday, said the programme, which became necessary following Hurricane Melissa which devastated sections of Jamaica, has been at the site assessment and procurement stages.

“It is expected that in the coming weeks and months the construction of bases and assembling of houses section of the project will be sufficiently advanced in order to commence the handing over process. Cabinet Minister, Robert Montague’s tour of western Jamaica in order to further assess progress made concerning the project, which had been set for last week, has been rescheduled for this week,” the Andrew-Holness-led administration said.

Approximately 1,500 modular houses are in Jamaica. The government said an additional 1,000 units are to arrive on the island by the end of this month.

It said additional updates will be provided to the media subsequent to the tour.

The government said the project experienced temporary delays due to global shipping challenges surrounding the Chinese New Year and subsequent logistics constraints, all of which have been fully resolved by the government.

The government said it refuses to compromise on quality and safety and therefore a rigorous process has been engaged to ensure housing base preparations meet stringent regulatory and environmental standards.

Additionally, the government said continuous assessments have had to be undertaken to confirm land tenure and consequential suitability for construction.

“The Government remains steadfast in its mandate to deliver resilient housing solutions and will not be distracted by efforts to sensationalise the complex, data-driven work required to ensure our citizens receive the support they deserve. Every site undergoes a critical assessment to ensure suitability, a necessary step that ensures the long-term safety of these housing units,” the government said.