The Government has sought to assure that the construction and assembling phase of the modular housing programme commenced last week and is progressing.

The statement follows criticism from Opposition Spokesman on Housing and Sustainable Living, Senator Floyd Morris, who blasted the Government for failing to distribute the containerised houses intended for citizens affected by Hurricane Melissa.

In a release yesterday, Minister with responsibility for land titling and settlements, Robert Montague, said the programme has been at the site assessment and procurement stages.

He said it is expected that in the coming weeks and months, the construction of bases and the assembly of houses phase of the project will be advanced sufficiently to commence the handing over process.

Mr. Montague said his tour of western Jamaica to further assess the progress of the project, which was set for last week, has been rescheduled for this week.

He said the project experienced temporary delays due to global shipping challenges, the Chinese New Year and subsequent logistics constraints, all of which have been fully resolved by the Government.

According to Mr. Montague, the Government refuses to compromise on quality and safety, and therefore a rigorous process has been engaged to ensure housing base preparations meet stringent regulatory and environmental standards.

Additionally, he said continuous assessments have been undertaken to confirm land tenure and consequential suitability for construction.

He further explained that every site undergoes a critical assessment to ensure suitability, a necessary step that ensures the long-term safety of these housing units.

Mr. Montague noted that approximately 1,500 modular houses are in Jamaica, with an additional 1,000 units to arrive on the island by the end of this month.