Prime Minister Expects Hurricane Recovery to Spur Construction Growth
By: , October 6, 2026
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivers the keynote address during the handover ceremony for the Concrete Pavement and Infrastructure Improvement Project in the Bell Rock community of Olympic Way, St. Andrew, on October 2.The Full Story
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has indicated that Jamaica’s construction sector is poised for significant growth as reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Melissa gather momentum.
He further called on Caribbean Cement Company Limited (Carib Cement) to expand its supply capacity, invest in modern technologies, and reduce prices to support long-term national development.
“In short order, you will be seeing a rapid expansion in construction in Jamaica between hospitals that have to be rebuilt, new schools that have to be built, new roadways that have to be built, in addition to private-sector projects,” Dr. Holness stated, noting that streamlined approvals under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) will further accelerate demand for cement.
He was speaking on October 2 during the handover ceremony for the Concrete Pavement and Infrastructure Improvement Project in the Bell Rock community of Olympic Way, St. Andrew.
The $8-million Bell Rock infrastructure project was financed through the corporate social responsibility programme of CEMEX, parent company of Carib Cement, in collaboration with its local subsidiary.
Dr. Holness commended the initiative while emphasising that Carib Cement has an important role to play in advancing the public good.
While acknowledging the company’s long-standing contribution to Jamaica’s development and its role in nurturing engineering and technical expertise, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of ensuring that cement supply and pricing remain supportive of the country’s economic growth and development objectives.
To help stabilise prices and safeguard supply, the Prime Minister noted that the Government has increased quotas for cement imports while ensuring that local manufacturing investment and capacity development remain protected.
Dr. Holness further encouraged Carib Cement to pursue greater efficiency through investment in modern manufacturing technologies, with a view to lowering production costs.
