FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Government has formally begun a major reconstruction effort to restore residential care services in Trelawny following the destruction of the parish infirmary during Hurricane Melissa last October.
Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie announced that construction has entered an active phase, with groundwork and site preparation now nearing completion. The project marks the first deployment of the Government’s modular container-based housing solution for social care facilities.
The total investment is projected at approximately $150 million, with the initial construction phase accounting for just over $60 million. This stage focuses on establishing new residential accommodation to allow displaced residents to return as quickly as possible.
Under the current plan, reinforced foundations are being installed to support prefabricated living units. Concrete works are expected to begin shortly, after which the modular structures will be placed on site within weeks. If timelines hold, the first units should be operational by early February.
Beyond residential housing, a second development phase will introduce supporting infrastructure, including laundry services, storage facilities, staff quarters, and an isolation area designed to strengthen health and safety standards.
Minister McKenzie indicated that the temporary units are engineered for durability, with an expected lifespan exceeding a decade and the capacity to withstand future hurricanes. While recent rainfall has slowed progress, he expressed confidence that weather conditions will stabilize and allow the build to remain on schedule.
The project also forms part of a broader initiative to secure a permanent site for a modern replacement infirmary, which officials say is now under advanced consideration.
Contractor Damion Stewart of Complete Development Solutions confirmed that construction remains on track, with modular placement scheduled for early February once foundation work is complete.
Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Junior Gager, praised the initiative, noting that the development will restore dignity and stability to residents who have been displaced since last year’s storm.
“This is more than construction,” he said. “It is the rebuilding of a home and the return of certainty for some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
