Each MP to Receive $100,000 for Immediate Relief

The Government is making $100,000 available to each Member of Parliament (MP) to enable them to respond immediately to the demands in their constituencies, following the passage of Hurricane Ivan.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who made the announcement at a meeting of the National Disaster Committee at Jamaica House yesterday (September 12), said the allocation was in addition to sums that were already made available to the local parish committees and the relief officers attached to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
In terms of damage assessment, the Prime Minister said that while preliminary reports indicated that the damage in Kingston and St. Andrew was not extreme, the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland and sections of St. James and Hanover were severely affected.
He said the recovery effort was already proceeding, as water and electricity were being turned on, starting with the essential services, such as hospitals and fire stations.
Roads are also being cleared of blockages, and the Palisadoes Road leading to the Norman Manley International Airport, which could now accommodate single-lane traffic, is being cleared to allow access to the airport. Kingston is no longer cut off from eastern and northern Jamaica and the Sangster International Airport is ready to receive commercial flights.
All government ministries and agencies resumed work today and schools would begin to open tomorrow (September 14), the Prime Minister stated.
In addition, he said persons have already started to leave shelters and return home.
The Prime Minister commended the Police and the Jamaica Defence Force for their part in keeping the peace during the hurricane and the aftermath.