Press Release
For Immediate Release
Montego Bay, St James,
December 18, 2025
HAJ Reaffirms Commitment to Providing Technical Support to Residents of
Edmund Ridge Following Hurricane Melissa; Independent Assessment Confirms Quality Building Standard recovery.
The Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing
guidance and support to residents of the Edmund Ridge housing scheme as they continue the process following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The reaffirmation came during a visit to the scheme by the HAJ team led by Chairman
Mr. Norman Brown, and Managing Director, Mrs. Doreen Prendergast, to deliver
tarpaulins to residents.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the HAJ mobilized its teams to check
in across the community, assess the situation, and provide early guidance to affected
homeowners. As part of these initial actions, 21 tarpaulins were distributed through
the Homeowners Association to households that were most impacted.
To further support residents in navigating the recovery process, the HAJ convened a
meeting with homeowners at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The meeting
included a representative of the National Housing Trust (NHT), who outlined the steps
residents should take to access insurance coverage and financing options available to
support repairs and restoration. As part of its continued engagement, the HAJ is maintaining dialogue with the Homeowners Association and returned to the scheme with additional temporary materials.
A further 45 tarpaulins were handed over to a representative of the
Executive of the Home Owners Association and are now set to be distributed through
The Association to households who need them.
Chairman of the Housing Agency of Jamaica, Mr. Norman Brown, said the Agency
remains deeply empathetic to the experience of residents, noting that Hurricane
Melissa was an extraordinary and traumatic event.
“We fully understand that for most people, their home represents their largest
investment, and the impact of this hurricane has been deeply unsettling for many
families,” Mr. Brown said. “We are encouraged that the overall structural integrity of
the development has largely held, and we are committed to providing technical support
to residents as they take the necessary steps to restore their homes and return to
normalcy.”
Following the hurricane, the HAJ commissioned an independent engineering
assessment of the Edmund Ridge development. The assessment confirmed that the
houses were constructed in accordance with the required building standards and that
appropriate materials, including hurricane straps, were used in the construction of
the units.
The scale and intensity of Hurricane Melissa were such that it would have been
difficult for any housing development to emerge without some level of impact. Posst
hurricane assessments indicate that of approximately 344 solutions that were
completed in the development, of those handed over, only 128 suffered roof damage,
six of which experienced severe structural impact. The majority of the homes
withstood the storm, reflecting the soundness of the overall design and construction.
The HAJ acknowledged the disruption and distress experienced by residents and
reaffirmed its commitment to remaining engaged throughout the recovery period. The
Agency will continue to provide guidance, advocate on behalf of homeowners, and
work with relevant partners to support recovery efforts.
The Housing Agency of Jamaica also reiterated its confidence in Edmund Ridge as a
well-planned and resilient housing development, noting that it remains a solid long
term investment for homeowners