Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says emergency work is to begin immediately at the Westmoreland Infirmary, as the Government moves to restore critical sections of the facility heavily damaged by Hurricane Melissa. The Minister made the disclosure after a tour of the facility on December 3, where he examined structural damage to the male and...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has directed that immediate clean-up operations begin at the Savanna-la-Mar market in Westmoreland, following extensive damage caused by the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa. The Minister was speaking to journalists after touring the facility on Wednesday (December 3). “I have said to the Mayor and to the technical team in...

Approximately 100 shelters remain active across the island, currently housing 1,107 displaced persons in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Addressing Wednesday’s (December 3) post-Cabinet press briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery at Jamaica House, Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, reported that shelter occupants continue to receive meals, hygiene supplies, psychological support, and medical...

Approximately 215,000 buildings sustained varying levels of damage from the passage of Hurricane Melissa, says Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle. “Across the island, some 1.6 million buildings have been assessed by GeoAI. Of that number, we have now assessed 215,000 to have some level of damage. It is estimated that 156,000 of...

Jamaica’s reconstruction strategy, being deployed across infrastructure, housing, digitalisation, logistics, agriculture and energy, will create thousands of jobs, improve national productivity and protect fiscal sustainability. Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the declaration in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (December 2), where he provided details about the comprehensive financial package of up to US$6.7 billion over...

Jamaica is set to benefit from a comprehensive package of up to US$6.7 billion over three years, designed to strengthen recovery and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The funds will be facilitated through CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, the International Monetary...