Prime Minister Commends NHT for Speedy Insurance Payouts

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has commended the National Housing Trust (NHT) for the rapid insurance payouts after Hurricane Melissa and urged private insurers to accelerate payments to clients in a bid to hasten the nation’s recovery.

Speaking at a ceremony in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, on June 4, where 27 serviced lots were officially handed over to beneficiaries, Dr. Holness framed the NHT’s action as a model for resilience and efficiency in disaster recovery.

He said the agency’s responsiveness demonstrates a deep alignment with the needs of its contributors, particularly in the wake of a devastating storm that disrupted thousands of lives.

“I want to commend the NHT for being quick in making the insurance payments, and I want to challenge the private insurers to speed up the payments on the claims. That is an important part of the recovery from Hurricane Melissa,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Holness emphasised that every expedited payout translates into faster home repairs, quicker rebuilds, and steadier livelihoods for families still adjusting to the storm’s impact.

According to the Prime Minister, the NHT has processed 3,835 claims tied to Melissa, totalling roughly $7 billion in potential payments.

While policyholder deductibles and policy limitations mean the full amount may not be disbursed, the agency has already disbursed about $2.85 billion to claimants.

“Effectively, they (NHT) have paid out almost half of the insurance claims. Insurance claims aren’t processed that quickly but the NHT has done a very good job, and I want to point that out to the country,” Dr. Holness said.

The Malvern ceremony underscored the Government’s ongoing commitment to delivering tangible assets to residents who rebuilt after Melissa, while also signalling expectations for private insurers to align with public-sector speed and efficiency.

“Access to land is one of the first steps towards homeownership, and I am pleased to see more Jamaican families moving closer to that goal. These lots are equipped with essential infrastructure, including paved roads, drainage systems, streetlights, and electrical services to support future development. Congratulations to all the beneficiaries as they begin this important new chapter,” the Prime Minister said.

He emphasised that rapid disbursement, within reason, can play a decisive role in stabilising communities and accelerating economic recovery in the wake of natural disasters.

He further argued that timely insurance payouts reduce the time families spend in temporary housing and enable them to deal with basic and important necessities during a critical recovery window.

As Jamaica continues the long road to rebuilding, Dr. Holness reiterated the Government’s intent to maintain momentum, noting that success in the recovery will hinge on both speed and fairness across all sectors involved in disaster relief.