The Government has allocated $350 million to support national drought mitigation efforts, aimed at easing the impact of the dry conditions currently affecting several parishes across the island.

Addressing a press briefing at Jamaica House on July 16, 2025, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, said the funding will support immediate water relief initiatives as well as strategic infrastructure investments to improve drought resilience.

“Those measures will include $250M which will be executed by the MEGJC, which will see trucking that will be directed through Members of Parliament of approximately $150M. It will see further trucking support to the National Water Commission of approximately $50M to service critical infrastructure and $50M towards additional tank purchases”, the Minster noted.

Minister Samuda further noted that an additional $100M will be channeled through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, to assist farmers and will be shared between water trucking, drip irrigation systems and grass purchases.

Minister Samuda reported that over the last nine years, more than 350,000 Jamaicans have benefitted from improved access to water as a result of long-term investments in the sector. He said that the Government is currently midway through executing approximately $22B in capital works in potable water, sewage and irrigation systems that will benefit over 900,000 Jamaicans when complete.

“We want to assure Jamaicans that the investment is already bearing fruit. These large investments include the Western Resilience Water Project, which will see significant expansion and improvement in the distribution network, the processing network and indeed storage systems in western Jamaica, spanning from Martha Brae all the way around to roaring river in Westmoreland”, he stated.

The Minister added that significant benefits are also expected from the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) programme.

“Non-Revenue Water includes major line replacements that NWC is doing, which goes up to about $10B this year. It also includes the $5B being spent through the National Works Agency under the SPARK (Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network) Programme, which changes old pipes so when roads are laid they don’t have to go and repair roads immediately after”, he explained.

Minister Samuda noted that efforts are also underway to expand water production capacity, noting that construction has already begun on the Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant that will supply 15 million gallons of water a day to Spanish Town, Portmore and Kingston and St. Andrew.

“In February 2022, in Kingston and St. Andrew, we were short 12 million gallons a day in that drought, the worst of our droughts. This system will provide 15 million gallons of water a day when complete in less than two years, based on where we are”, he noted.

Minister Samuda gave the assurance that the Drought Management Committee of the Integrated Water Resource Management Council, will ensure that the allocation will reach persons most in need, adding that members of the police, fire brigade and the Social Development Commission have been engaged to ensure that social cohesion is managed during the dry period.

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Government will be examining the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), to see how best to incorporate the provision of land for building.

Speaking yesterday (July 10, 2025) at the Groundbreaking and Contract Signing for the Hibiscus Housing Development at Tower Hill in Kingston 11, Prime Minister Holness said the NSHP currently does not provide the land, so if beneficiaries meet the need, they would have to find the land.

“We have been examining the programme and at some point in time we are going to have to make a change to the programme to include finding lands for persons who meet the need criteria, but don’t have the lands. Right now we could be building many more houses, but we have actually reached the limit in terms of the number of beneficiaries who have the land on which we can build”, he explained.

The Prime Minister added that one of the challenges the programme faces, is that many properties in these communities are not titled.

“Some of them, the owners have migrated, and different persons have been occupying the lands over time and so they are not regularised, so it takes some time to establish ownership for the lands”, he noted.

The Prime Minister noted that while beneficiary assessment, land acquisition, and project design remain the most time-consuming aspects of the programme, there has been significant improvement in the construction and delivery of houses, some completed within just two to three months.

“The phase we are in now is to scale up the programme. In the next budget we will have more resources, we will expand the programme. We will add new features to the programme so that we can serve more people”, the Prime Minister stated.

The Hibiscus Housing Developed is being constructed under Modality Three of the New Social Housing Programme: the “Upgrade of Tenements” (Big Yards).

The Development which has a timeline of six (6) months, will be completed at a cost of over $45 million and will see the construction of seven (7) units, comprising four (4) studios, one (1) two-bedroom unit and two (2) three-bedroom units. The project will benefit 16 persons, including children, who were living in deplorable conditions.

As of July 10, 2025, a total of 295 housing units or 676 rooms have been completed, with over 1063 persons benefitting.   There are 45 active construction projects or 93 rooms which will be completed in short order.  Sixty-five additional projects will commence during this financial year, adding another 384 rooms to the housing stock.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness broke ground today (June 25, 2025), for the $2.4 billion Braeton to Naggo Head Road Project under the Government’s Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme.

Addressing the gathering, Minister without Portfolio, Hon. Robert Morgan, said the Project which will last for 16 months, is part of the integrated development that is occurring in Portmore and across the Corporate Area.

“We are 99 percent finished with the Grange Lane Project, so we are doing this one now and we will soon be doing the one colloquially known as the Portmore Entrance, which is right on Mandela Highway. It also includes, as part of the CAPEX expenditure, Arthur Wint Drive, Lady Musgrave and several other CAPEX projects, including the rehabilitation of the Sandy Gully and its tributaries. This represents about $30 billion in investment by the Government in capital expenditure over the next 3 to 5 years” he stated.

In his address, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, noted that Portmore is becoming a self-generating and self-contained economic entity, with businesses attracting employment including a growing BPO, as well as growing commercial, retail, manufacturing and entertainment sectors.

The Prime Minister added that housing is also ‘literally exploding’ in the Municipality.

“What we have done in the creation of the Bernard Lodge project is significant. We could have 10 to 15 thousand housing units in addition to an urban Centre which is going to be created there. So, what you don’t want to do is to build the houses and then try to fix the roads because that would be a disincentive for people to actually want to come and live. You want to build the roads so that people realize that traffic is seamless”, he stated.

This growth accompanied by the ‘locally generated traffic’, the Prime Minister continued, makes the building out of critical corridors in Portmore essential.

“So, the idea is to build out the urban road infrastructure within Portmore, so that it eases traffic, increases convenience but places Portmore to be an excellent economic hub in Jamaica and that is really in advance of Portmore becoming a parish”, he stated.

The project runs for approximately three (3) kilometers from Naggo Head to the intersection of Braeton and Hellshire Road to the final turn off into Greater Portmore. It will be a four-lane roadway with raised median and traffic signals at the relevant locations, adequate sidewalks, drains and water lines, as well as ducts for fibre optic cable as part of the National Broadband Initiative.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness along with Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Hon. Robert Morgan and other stakeholders break ground for the Port Antonio Bypass on June 26, 2025

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, broke ground today, (June 26, 2025) for the commencement of works on the much-anticipated Port Antonio Bypass Project, noting that it ‘marks the breaking of barriers that have long held back the full economic potential’ of Portland and its people. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the US$81 million project, the Prime Minister said the Bypass represents the dawning of a new era of mobility, opportunity and resilience for Portland. “From the early days of our administration we made a clear commitment to modernize Jamaica’s infrastructure and ensure that no parish, no town, no community is left behind. The Port Antonio Bypass Project is the latest expression of that commitment.  It represents an investment in Portland’s growth, in its tourism potential, in its ability to attract capital, create jobs and build wealth for its citizens” he stated. The Prime Minister added that the Bypass Project is “a strategic initiative with national importance”, adding that for decades Port Antonio has been one of Jamaica’s hidden gems, blessed with natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, but held back by limited access and inadequate infrastructure. “The current route through the town centre, while scenic, adds to the traffic congestion in the town.  It is vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion, and it cannot accommodate the scale of development we envision for this area”. The Port Antonio Bypass, he said, will solve these issues. “The new 18 kilometre corridor divided into 2 phases, will divert through traffic from the fragile, congested, coastal town centre, cutting travel time, reducing transport costs and unlocking vast development potential inland. In so doing, it will unlock new commercial zones, stimulate land development and create room for expansion, while maintaining Port Antonio as a quiet coastal retreat, but with a thriving economic hub”, he explained. Meanwhile, Minister without Portfolio Hon. Robert Morgan noted that the Bypass, is a critical extension of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP). “In April this year, Cabinet approved a variation of the existing (SCHIP) contract, with an allocation of $81 million US dollars for construction and $521 million Jamaican dollars for the acquisition of land for the project.  This is not just a road.  It is a development corridor, a climate resilient artery and a signal of our intent as a Government to continue building Jamaica”, he stated Phase 1 of the Bypass Project runs 7 kilometers from Norwich to Turtle Crawl Harbour, while Phase 2 encompasses the 11 kilometers from Turtle Crawl Harbour to Boston Bay. Works on the project will include the construction of four (4) lanes; the construction of median jersey barriers for phases 1A and 1B; earth and pavement works; the installation of traffic signals, conduits and fibre ducts, as well as the construction of five new bridges. The contractor on the project is China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Hon. Matthew Samuda at the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Knowledge Exchange on June 23, 2025.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, emphasized the urgency of collective climate action, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and vulnerable nations across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.

Minister Samuda was speaking at the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) LAC Knowledge Exchange being hosted by the Government of Jamaica, CIF, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank Group at UWI Regional Headquarters. This four-day gathering of regional leaders, development partners, and technical experts is focused on accelerating climate resilience and sustainable development.

“For Jamaica and our Neighbours, climate change is not a distant threat—it is a lived reality,” the Minister noted. “From more frequent hurricanes and prolonged droughts to coastal degradation and agricultural disruption, our development gains are at risk.”

Recent data underscores the gravity of the challenge. The IDB estimates that climate change could cost the region up to 1.5% of its GDP annually by 2050, while climate-related events have already caused over USD 150 billion in damages between 2000 and 2022. Addressing these threats will require an estimated USD 1.3 trillion in investment by 2030, according to the European Investment Bank.

Minister Samuda called for continued support of the UNFCCC framework and robust financing for key mechanisms such as the CIF, the Green Climate Fund, and the Loss and Damage Fund, stressing the need for equity, accessibility, and locally led solutions.

Highlighting Jamaica’s experience as a participant in the CIF’s Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), he pointed to successful initiatives involving climate-smart agriculture, resilient infrastructure, and enhanced early warning systems as examples of what meaningful partnership can achieve.

“This Knowledge Exchange gives us the space to reflect, collaborate, and scale up investments under new CIF programs like Nature, People and Climate (NPC) and ARISE, guided by equity, science, and shared learning,” the Minister said.

The event is expected to deepen South-South cooperation, strengthen regional alliances, and amplify the voices of climate-vulnerable communities across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Over the four days, the group will also visit projects that benefited from CIF funding in Jamaica, including a solar-powered agricultural production hub that demonstrates how concessional finance can drive tangible progress in national planning, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

Minister Samuda thanks CIF, IDB, and the World Bank Group for hosting this four-day Knowledge Exchange and bringing together approximately 150 participants from CIF recipient country governments, the private sector, civil society, indigenous peoples, local community groups, as well as CIF MDB partners from the IDB, IFC, and World Bank.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, cuts the ribbon at the official opening of Phase One of the Garmex Freezone Redevelopment and Expansion Project in Kingston.

“Another bold new chapter in Jamaica’s industrial journey”, is the description given by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, to Phase One of the   Garmex Freezone Redevelopment and Expansion Project, during the official opening of the complex at its Industrial Terrace location in Kingston today (June 23, 2025).

Developed by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), Phase One of the project delivered approximately 126,000 square feet of new industrial space across 17 enterprises in multiple sectors including mini warehouses and micro businesses, at a cost of $1.1 billion.

“The real achievement is that this was fully funded from the resources of the FCJ.  There was no borrowing to do this. That is prudent public financial management which leads to smart and sustainable development”, he stated.

The Prime Minister further noted that in just over two years since the new facilities became operational, they have generated more than $340 million in rental income and these revenues will be reinvested to finance additional phases of expansion.

The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, was also the launching pad for Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment project, which together will represent nearly half a million square feet of new commercial and industrial space.

Prime Minister Holness said Phase 2 at an estimated cost of $3.2 Billion, will feature a new Marcus Garvey Drive entrance, and a new headquarters for the FCJ.  It will also include multi-level warehouse building and a modern high rise commercial complex.

The Prime Minister further noted that in addition to the spaces allocated for food outlets, medical centres, banking and other facilities required for modern light manufacturing and small business enterprises, the Government is also seeking to develop the area to accommodate technology firms.

“So phase 3 will see the transformation of 5.7 acres of vacant greenfield land into 150,000 square feet of productive space at a cost of $1.5 billion.  I am pleased to report that contracts have already been signed, and work is well underway, with an initial investment of $240 million. These 2 phases combined are projected to create up to 400 jobs in the construction phase and as many as 3000 new permanent jobs across the campus over the next 5 years”, he explained.

Dr Holness said the Garmex Project reflects “the government’s economic strategy in action”, noting that what is being built is “the infrastructure of prosperity”.

“There is a great push for near shoring and friendly shoring and a rethink of where the manufacturing capabilities of the world should exist. Jamaica should not wait until investors are knocking on our door to say we want to come and locate here. We have to build here and wave frantically and say hey, we have facilities, capabilities and the necessary fiscal framework”, the Prime Minister said.

Established in 1976, Garmex has evolved from a warehousing and trans-shipment facility into the “most diverse Freezone in Jamaica and the largest commercial industrial complex on the island”.   The redevelopment project is a direct response to the growing demand for commercial and industrial space and is designed to transform the complex into a vibrant Special Economic Zone.

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says a new dimension of the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), aimed at tourism workers, will be launched shortly.

“We have a budget that will essentially finance the construction of another 100 units for tourism workers under this New Social Housing Programme”, he noted.

The Prime Minister was speaking on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the handing over of a new two-bedroom unit at Whitehall Avenue in St. Andrew,  to beneficiary Patrick Sawyers who lost his home in a fire.

Describing the NSHP as “the most successful and effective social housing initiative in Jamaica’s history”, the Prime Minister stated that the Programme, will continue for years and will be expanded in coming years .

“As the Programme continues and is scaled up, we will be able to hand over on a weekly basis.  Now we do an average two or three per week.  We intend to double that within the next two years to the point where we can be at 8, 10, 15 and even 20”, he said.

The Prime Minister said the NSHP is targeting 6,000 housing solutions across Jamaica, which he said based on estimations, is the number of households that are living “below the standard of shelter and housing that the Jamaican conscience can tolerate”.

He further noted that the Government has, to date, handed over 292 units to needy beneficiaries, with 46 units currently under construction and expected to be completed within the next three months.

The Prime Minister added that 65 units are in various stages of design, procurement and contracting, noting that in total there are 403 units that are “ready to go”.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, broke ground on Friday, June 13, 2025, for the construction of the Village of Tower Hill Housing Development in Kingston 11, marking a major step forward in the Government’s push to improve the living conditions of vulnerable Jamaicans under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).

The groundbreaking ceremony also included the official contract signing for the project, which will see the transformation of a former tenement yard into six modern apartment units valued at over $49.9 million. The development will house 13 individuals who were previously living in deplorable conditions.

“We have demolished the units that were there and we are going to build a fantastic new development of six modern apartments, and it is not just this tenement yard. We have now refined the process and my objective is to re-develop every single big yard and tenement yard in this area and, indeed, to take this project right across Jamaica”, explained Prime Minister Holness.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Government now has the capacity to construct housing units under the NSHP at a significantly faster pace.

“Last week I handed over a house that took three weeks to build, so we have developed the capacity to do it quickly. There is still some time that has to be taken in the application, verification, procurement, contracting and building processes. But we are lessening the time it takes, so we are much faster in delivering the benefits.”

He added that the NSHP is not just about housing, but also about transforming communities and promoting ambition among beneficiaries.

Implemented in 2018 through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the NSHP is a key component of the Government’s Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme. As of June 13, 2025, the NSHP has delivered 292 housing units equating to 671 rooms impacting more than 1,050 individuals across 57 constituencies.

Currently, 46 housing projects are actively under construction in 20 constituencies, with an additional 65 projects comprising 175 units slated to begin during this financial year.

The Village of Tower Hill Housing Development is expected to serve as a model for future tenement yard redevelopment projects as the Government continues its commitment to build a better Jamaica for all.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan, says Cabinet has approved the Port Antonio Bypass Project, with work expected to get underway this month (June)

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, Minister Morgan said the Government is prioritising the US$81 million Project, which is expected to improve travel efficiency, reduce congestion and support regional economic growth.

“The Port Antonio Bypass is critical to continuing the growth of Port Antonio and encouraging tourism investment and agriculture.  But most importantly, (it will) benefit the people of Portland and Port Antonio who have been suffering for a very long time”, he stated.

The Bypass, an extension of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP), will incorporate a 4 -lane design and will provide an alternative route to ease congestion in the Port Antonio Town Centre.

-30-

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan says, “the impact of the Governments Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) Progamme cannot be questioned”.

Making his Sectoral Presentation in Parliament on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Minister Morgan, who has responsibility for the Works Portfolio said every constituency benefitted from the programme.

The Minister added that out of the $3 billion allotted to the programme, each Member of Parliament had the opportunity to recommend $20 million worth of patching work in their constituency.

“Every single constituency in this country benefitted from the REACH Programme.  The impact of Hurricane Beryl and subsequent events are known throughout Jamaica.  There were cries for help about the deteriorating conditions of our roads. Thankfully, through sound fiscal management, the Government was able to find the resources to launch the $3 billion REACH Programme”.

However, he added that the extraordinary rainfall between July and December last year, prompted additional patching.

“Though the REACH was important, we had unprecedented rain between July and December of last year.  Roads that had reached their end of life began to disintegrate. It is for that reason that Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness announced the REACH Emergency which was a $2 billion programme. All told, we spent approximately $4.5 to $5 billion on Islandwide road patching”, the Minister stated.

Minister Morgan announced that the emergency patching is between 80 and 90 percent complete while the broader $3 billion constituency-based REACH Programme, is 72 percent complete. Both phases are expected to be completed by the end of June.