Prime Minister Calls on Local Contractors to Prepare for Large-Scale Projects

With 150,000 housing solutions targeted to meet the nation’s demand, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has underscored the need for an enterprise level contracting cadre in Jamaica to take on large projects.

“As we scale up what we’re going to do, contractors must also scale up their capabilities, their competence, and their resources. We are going to be increasing the capital budget… we’re going to be bringing more projects on stream. We need you to be ready… we need you to make the investments in yourselves [and] in your communities,” the Prime Minister stated.

He was delivering the keynote address during the ceremony to break ground for the Galina Housing Development in St. Mary on April 24.

Dr. Holness noted that each year, a “significant percentage” of the capital budget is returned to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service because approved projects are not completed.

Beyond the many processes that precede the construction phase, the issue of uncompleted projects also relates to contractors, whom the Prime Minister described as critical to national development.

Dr. Holness stressed that contractors are critical s in achieving the Government’s 150,000 housing target.

He explained that the approach requires engaging individuals with proven skills in housing construction and entering into legal agreements that obligate them to deliver homes at a specified price point, quality standard, and within a defined timeframe.

The Prime Minister stated that Jamaica needs a contracting class that is thinking at enterprise scale, “that will put the resources into their business to acquire the technical skills and competencies, integrate the technology, and develop the balance sheet to support the kinds of capital works that the Government of Jamaica will be bringing to market”.

Dr. Holness sad contractors must have the capacity to take on 10,000 houses at a time in order to make a meaningful impact.

He also urged local contractors to embrace innovation and leverage technology, so they can deliver houses in half the time previously required.

Prime Minister Holness added that while the Government will continue to make preferential arrangements for local contractors, they must also be competitive at the regional and global levels.

For the Galina Housing Development, the National Housing Trust has partnered with Chinese company, Henan Fifth Construction Group Jamaica Limited.

“We welcome them into our space. We will hold them to the same standards, if not higher, for the production of houses at pace, at scale, and at the level of affordability for the average Jamaican,” Dr. Holness said.

He pointed out that as they participate in the Jamaican economy, they must also contribute to the country’s overall development.

“It is not an extractive engagement. Skills transfer… technology transfer must be done. The use of Jamaican technical expertise must be done. Your corporate social responsibility to Jamaica and Jamaicans must be exercised. You must contribute to the communities that you are participating in,” the Prime Minister underscored.