Floyd Morris condemns Govt’s failure to distribute houses to persons affected by Hurricane Melissa

The Opposition Spokesman on Housing and Sustainable Living, Professor Senator Floyd Morris, has condemned the Government’s failure to distribute the containerised houses intended for citizens affected by Hurricane Melissa, despite repeated assurances that they had arrived in the island.

Professor Senator Morris said it is unacceptable that, nine months after Hurricane Melissa destroyed the homes of thousands of Jamaicans, not a single family has received one of the 5,000 containerised houses the Government committed to purchasing. “It is a disgrace that nine months after Hurricane Melissa destroyed the homes of citizens, the Government, having committed to purchasing 5,000 containerised houses, has not delivered a single one of these houses to citizens in the worst-affected parishes,” Professor Senator Morris said.

He noted that the country was initially told the houses would arrive in January 2026, only for the Government to repeatedly revise its timeline. “We were told that these houses would arrive in January 2026. Since then, there have been several revised arrival dates until, in May 2026, we were informed that more than 500 houses had arrived on the island. This announcement came only after I asked at an Opposition press conference, ‘Where are the houses?'”

Professor Senator Morris further pointed out that during several Senate debates on the legislation establishing the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), as well as debates concerning the continued annual extraction of $11.4 billion from the National Housing Trust (NHT), similar questions were raised. “On each occasion, we were assured that the houses were already in Jamaica. Yet, to date, not a single one has been delivered to any citizen.”

The Opposition spokesman said the Government owes the Jamaican people an honest explanation for the continued delay. “Why, after indicating more than a month ago that the houses had arrived in the island, has not a single citizen in the affected areas received a containerised house? This is both scandalous and disgraceful.”

Professor Senator Morris is calling on the Government to answer the following questions:

1. What is causing the delay in the distribution of these houses?
2. When will these houses be distributed?
3. How will they be distributed?
4. Where will they be distributed?
5. What role will Members of Parliament play in determining who receives these houses?
6. What criteria will be used to determine eligibility?
7. Will the houses be sold, or will they be provided free of cost to affected citizens?

Professor Senator Morris stressed that families who lost their homes should not be left waiting indefinitely while the Government remains silent. “The people affected by Hurricane Melissa deserve more than promises. They deserve action, transparency and the dignity of knowing when they will finally receive the assistance they were promised.”