Old Harbour residents receive Hurricane Beryl cheques

More than 100 residents of communities in Old Harbour, St Catherine, have received support under the Government's Rebuild Jamaica initiative for persons who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl in July.

Sixty-nine persons in the Old Harbour Road area and 33 residents from Old Harbour received cheques worth $50,000, $150,000 and $400,000, based on the severity of damage done to their homes during the passage of the storm. Speaking at the Old Harbour Baptist Church on February 25, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles Jr, said incorrect information provided by some persons caused delays in the provision of relief.

"We have used this exercise to learn how to improve and how to be better as we serve you. We want to make sure that you are repairing your homes using the hurricane straps, using the methodologies that make it stronger and ensuring that the infrastructure in the communities can withstand what we know is coming," he said.

At another ceremony held at the Church of God of Prophecy on Old Harbour Road, he said that the Government has put more than $1 billion in the relief programme to ensure that repairs are carried out to roofs, houses, and general shelters for citizens across the island, and it is possible because of prudent management of the economy. He pointed out that some adjustments had to be made for supplemental support because the number of persons impacted continues to grow.

"We received another $415 million that is now going to be put towards Beryl support. What it means is that the Government is spending close to $1.5 billion, if not more than that, on support for the people of Jamaica who were impacted by hurricane Beryl," he said.