Chairman of Jamaica Developers Association Dayton Wood says Jamaica’s chronic shortage of housing solutions should be considered a national emergency

October 5, 2026

Jamaica’s chronic shortage of housing solutions should be considered a national emergency.

That’s the view of Chairman of the Jamaica Developers Association, Dayton Wood, as he addressed a panel discussion during the World Habitat Day Exposition at the Summit hotel in Kingston today.

Hosted by the Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development Ministry, the exposition was designed to create a platform for public education, dialogue, and engagement around the importance of adequate housing and the development of safe, sustainable, and resilient communities.

Responding to the question of the main challenges affecting housing supply and delivery in Jamaica, Mr. Wood notes that persons from overseas now want to buy homes in the country.

He says this adds to the existing demand by locals, creating more competition and driving up housing costs.

Mr. Wood points to other factors affecting housing supply in Jamaica, such as construction costs.

https://iriefm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/WOOD-HOUSING-CHRONIC-1.mp3

He says a master plan is needed to address the yearly demand of housing solutions, noting that the initiative must transcend generations and political administrations.

https://iriefm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/DAYTON-HOUSING-CHRONIC-IN-JA-2.mp3

Meanwhile, Mr. Wood says the need for land to build houses is also essential to addressing supply.

However, he explains that there needs to be a balance between the land requirements for both agriculture and housing.

https://iriefm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/DAYTON-HOUSING-CHRONIC-IN-JA-3.mp3