Government allocates $10 billion for Hurricane Melissa reconstruction grants

The Government has allocated $10 billion for reconstruction grants, which will be distributed to householders whose homes were damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 last year.

Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness, made the disclosure following a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Office of the Cabinet, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) on January 8 at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Holness informed that the meeting was used to determine the framework and modalities by which the Government will conduct the distribution and disbursement of relief, reconstruction and restoration grants to persons who suffered damage to their dwellings.

“I know many Jamaicans, particularly in the most devastated areas, are looking forward to these conditional cash transfers to assist them in recovery. I want to emphasise that these grants will not be able to totally restore – for some, yes, but for others it will be a partial assistance. We encourage persons to continue to use their own means as much as they can and we will definitely come in and support,” he said.

“Our budget and our fiscal situation would have allowed us to make an allocation of $10 billion. The ODPEM has advised us that there would be approximately 90,000 households that would have suffered some form of damage, and the Minister has advised me that, so far, approximately 65,000 assessments have been done,” he continued.

Holness said various operational procedures have been concluded that will guide how the programme works.

He explained that the implementation of the programme is “quite a complicated undertaking, to ensure that all the different nuances and the different circumstances are captured, so that we are in keeping with the laws that govern us, even in an emergency”.

Meanwhile, Holness used the opportunity to encourage persons who will benefit from the grant that they should use it for the purpose for which it is awarded, and that is to restore their dwellings.

“I know that there are many other needs that would be required for the rehabilitation of your household but the primary purpose for the grant is to restore your dwelling. So, we urge you to use the grants when they are issued for this cause,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., will launch the programme next week and that the Government is expected to start making payments by the last week in January.

“We expect that these payments will take the form of using digital modalities or going through a person’s bank account or debit card, whatever is convenient. So, we will be using multiple channels and modalities to ensure convenience for the persons who will get the grants,” he said.

- JIS News

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