PM Holness Challenges Chinese Contractors to Help Build Affordable Housing

Montego Bay, St James: Speaking on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness called on Chinese contractors to use their construction expertise to support Jamaica’s affordable housing drive, stressing that the country cannot celebrate luxury developments while thousands of families remain without roofs following Hurricane Melissa.

The Prime Minister made the remarks at the topping-out ceremony for Tower One at The Pinnacle Montego Bay development, emphasizing that the national rebuilding effort requires developers who can work “at scale and at pace,” particularly in communities hardest hit by the storm.

“We can’t be celebrating luxury when there are thousands of households without roofs,” Holness said. “Every hour of my day is spent figuring out how to get roofs back on homes quickly, effectively, affordably, and sustainably.”

He pointed to the speed at which the 28-storey skyscraper was constructed as proof that the engineering team and LCH Development have the capacity to 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.”

The Prime Minister’s remarks underscore the urgency of tackling Jamaica’s housing challenges, particularly in the wake of natural disasters, and signal a push for partnerships that prioritize speed, efficiency, and affordability in rebuilding efforts.