Opposition presses government on Melissa housing as murder rate falls and coach Francis dies

Nine months after Hurricane Melissa displaced thousands across Jamaica, modular housing for storm victims remains a central political flashpoint, alongside controversy over demolitions in St. Thomas, a sharp fall in murders, and the death of a towering track and field figure.

Opposition spokesman on housing and sustainable living, Professor Senator Floyd Morris, said in a Monday statement that although hundreds of containerized homes have reportedly reached the island, none appear to have reached displaced families. He urged the government to state when units would be handed over, who would qualify, and how eligibility would be decided.

In a July 6 release, the government said construction and assembly of modular housing began last week after site assessment and procurement. It cited shipping delays linked to the Chinese New Year and logistics constraints, now described as resolved, and said rigorous checks on land tenure and site suitability were required. The statement put roughly 1,500 modular houses in Jamaica, with about 1,000 more expected by month-end, but gave no firm handover date. A cabinet minister’s planned western Jamaica tour to review progress was rescheduled to this week.

Morris argued nine months was more than enough time and said families in parishes including St. Elizabeth, Hanover, and St. James were still living under tarpaulin. He pressed for clear selection criteria and warned against partisan distribution, while denying he wanted members of parliament to name beneficiaries.

In West Albion, St. Thomas, opposition spokesman on land settlements and titling Loathan Cousins criticized the National Land Agency for demolishing occupied homes on crown land, including after the issue drew national attention. He said further destruction last week left residents displaced, among them members of the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Constabulary Force, and civil servants. Cousins questioned whether adequate notice was given and said the opposition was preparing documentation for United Nations committees.

Separate figures show killings down 24% between January and June, building on last year’s roughly 30-year low of more than 600 murders. Criminologist Dr. Jason Mai said Jamaicans should feel safer from gang-related violence but should still secure their homes. He renewed concerns that body-worn cameras issued to the Jamaica Constabulary Force cannot disable a visible red indicator during high-risk operations.

The track community also mourned Steven Frano Francis, co-founder and technical director of MVP Track Club, who died at 64 days after the club confirmed he was receiving medical treatment. Journalists paying tribute cited his role coaching Olympic and world champions across sprints and field events, including Asafa Powell’s men’s 100-metre world record, and said MVP helped shift Jamaica’s mindset toward elite home-based training.