Holness appeals to Chinese contractors to help build affordable housing

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has challenged Chinese contractors to use their expertise to help Jamaica build affordable housing, saying the country cannot celebrate luxury construction while thousands of families remain without roofs after Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at the topping-out ceremony for Tower One at The Pinnacle Montego Bay development today, Holness said the national rebuilding effort requires developers who can work “at scale and at pace,” especially in the hardest-hit communities.

“We can’t be celebrating luxury when there are thousands of households without roofs,” he said.

“Every hour of my day is spent figuring out how to get roofs back on homes quickly, effectively, affordable, and sustainably.”

Holness told the Chinese engineering team and LCH Development, the group behind the 28-storey tower, that the speed at which the skyscraper was built proved they could also help address Jamaica’s housing deficit.

“If you can do this, you can build thousands of houses as well,” he said.

“The Government of Jamaica is willing to partner with you on low-income housing, which is absolutely necessary at this time.”

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.