Kingston, Jamaica — 18 March 2026
The Government has allocated approximately $67 billion towards relief and recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa, with a significant portion directed towards restoring homes, infrastructure, and essential services—expenditure that is expected to have lasting implications for Jamaica’s housing and development landscape.
Speaking during the opening of the 2026/2027 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 10, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service confirmed that the funds were deployed across multiple sectors, with housing recovery and utility restoration among the most critical priorities.
A central feature of the spending was $11.2 billion allocated to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, including $10 billion dedicated to the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelter (ROOFS) programme. The programme remains one of the Government’s primary tools for repairing and rebuilding damaged homes, particularly for vulnerab…
