Government Senator Kavan Gayle has warned that despite billions of dollars being available for investment in housing and infrastructure work, rebuilding could be stymied by a shortage of skilled carpenters, masons, electricians, and plumbers to keep pace with development.

Speaking in the Senate on Friday during the debate on the National Housing Trust (Amendment) (Special Provisions) Act 2026 — which extends the Government’s authority to transfer $11.4 billion annually from the NHT to the Consolidated Fund for another five years — Gayle argued that, while financing remains essential to housing delivery, a worsening shortage of skilled construction workers is emerging as one of the biggest obstacles to achieving Jamaica’s development goals.

Gayle warned that even when funding is available and contractors have been secured, projects can struggle to move forward because there are not enough workers to do the job.