Repair Bill for 362 Damaged Schools Exceeds $3 Billion

The repair bill for the 362 schools damaged by Hurricane Beryl in July has exceeded $3 billion.

Preliminary estimates to undertake repairs were priced at $2.7 billion.

The disclosure was made by Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, during Wednesday’s (August 28) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

“Given that the number of schools assessed has increased, that figure would increase. More money will be required as we go through the school year. It’s now over $3 billion,” said Minister Williams.

Of the 362 schools, 107 were severely damaged, 139 were classified as moderately damaged, while 116 received minor damage.

Mrs. Williams said the Ministry has a better assessment now than it did in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl and will need to tap into the Supplementary budget.

“We have to present the case to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, and on our side we have to be efficient with the funds that were allocated to us, because it’s an additional burden on the national budget as a result of the hurricane,” Minister Williams said.

She noted that the contractors are working in earnest to meet the September 2 deadline.

“They are really pushing to ensure that they complete the work. Some of them have even put in double shifts, they’ve worked on weekends, and they’ve worked well into the nights to get the schools up and ready. For September 2, will the schools be at 100 per cent? Maybe not, but they are saying what’s left to be done will not impact the opening of school,” the Minister said.