Jamaica unveils comprehensive Aid programme of $1 billion for Hurricane Beryl victims

The Government of Jamaica, under the guidance on Prime Minister Andrew Holness, launched the REACH and REBUILD programme that involves housing grant to benefit families whose homes were completely destroyed or damaged as a result of Hurricane Beryl.

Families whose homes suffered complete destruction were given a housing grant of $400,000. Families in the case of severe home damage were provided with $150,000, and the ones with minor damage were granted $50,000.

PM Holness stated in a social media posting that the government takes pride in providing with the necessary support and funds to help rebound back from the effects of hurricane Beryl.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr made the announcement about this programme during a statement in the House of Representatives at an earlier conducted addressing.

“We have to address this restoration process as a partnership of all stakeholders, so it is envisioned that these grants will be supplemented by a range of other initiatives, including donor funds, contributions from the Diaspora, private sector initiatives such as the recently launched National Commercial Bank Foundation’s, ‘Building a Better Jamaica Fund’, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and Food for the Poor,” Chares Jr said during a previous public announcement addressing the matter.

Food for the Poor has replaced several roofs that were damaged in Clarendon as well as St Elizabeth, which were two of the hardest-hit parishes of the island by the claws of Beryl.

Assessments of the island’s wide damage conducted throughout gave an overview of the condition in which it was forecasted that some 8,700 households will need government support to help them recover and rebuild. “Of this amount, the vast majority would have suffered minor damage,” Charles Jr noted.

The REBUILD programme had set aside an amount of $1 billion to support the housing process and all other efforts.

The government also will be granting a total of $50 million to about 500 micro business operators, each to be assisted with a fund of $100,000, who went destitute as a result of the hurricane. The Social Intervention Programme will also offer funds to 200 tertiary-level students from severely affected households, totalling up to $30 million, with each student receiving $150,000.

These initiatives represent a comprehensive effort on the part of the government to help in recovery and rebuild the lives of those affected by Hurricane Beryl.

PM Andrew Holness also assure the citizens who are yet not benefitted by the programme will be assisted soon and stated that further help is on the way.