Golding Says Housing Grants Under ROOFS Programme Inadequate

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has raised concerns about the Government’s ROOFS housing initiative, arguing that the financial assistance being offered is insufficient to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking during the 2026/27 Budget Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Golding said the scale of support does not reflect the widespread devastation caused by the Category 5 storm, which inflicted major damage across the island.

He pointed out that current grant allocations—$500,000 for fully destroyed homes, $200,000 for major repairs, and $75,000 for minor damage—fall short of actual reconstruction costs, leaving many families unable to fully restore their homes.

Golding also questioned the reach of the programme, noting that the $5 billion allocated for rebuilding suggests only about 10,000 households will benefit, despite approximately 24,000 homes being completely destroyed.

He added that funding for repairs appears similarly limited, with billions allocated likely to assist only a fraction of the estimated 166,000 households that sustained damage.

The opposition leader warned that inadequate support could result in families living in partially repaired homes for extended periods, increasing financial strain and social challenges.

Golding further criticised the programme’s design, saying it does not sufficiently promote building stronger, more resilient homes. He stressed the need for better oversight and guidance to ensure reconstruction includes basic resilience measures to withstand future storms.

Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica in late 2025, damaged roughly 190,000 homes and destroyed about 24,000, placing significant pressure on the country’s economy and recovery efforts.