IRIE FM

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has stated his dissatisfaction with the pace of recovery in western Jamaica, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa a year ago.

The category 5 system caused catastrophic damage, leaving many persons without homes.

The Opposition Leader and members of the People’s National Party (PNP), visited communities in Westmoreland and Hanover today for a Hurricane Melissa one year anniversary tour.

Mr. Golding noted that the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelter (ROOFS) programme has been inadequate.

According to the Opposition Leader, some persons have been unable to access the benefits of the programme due to their living arrangements.

Meantime, he welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to allocate additional funds to the ROOFS programme.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness announced an additional $9.65 billion to the programme.

He was speaking at Cokes View Primary School in Westmoreland.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has chastised dancehall artist Beenie Man for his comments about the Government’s handling of money for Hurricane Melissa relief and recovery.

During an interview with ITV News in the United Kingdom, Beenie Man criticised the Government for how funds donated for hurricane relief were distributed while calling for more accountability.

Speaking at the reopening ceremony for the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth today, Dr. Holness pointed out that repair work on the facility is an example of how the funds were used.

Dr. Holness said, contrary to what Beenie Man claimed, the Government has a plan, is being efficient in how it uses hurricane relief resources, and has been praised by international entities for its handling of response efforts.

Dr. Holness again acknowledged that the pace of recovery is unsatisfactory, but stressed that progress made deserves to be highlighted.

One hundred and thirty-six individuals remain in 24 shelters, one year after Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a category 5 storm.

Sixty-six per cent of the shelterees are located in Westmoreland and St. James.

The disclosure was made by Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, during a post-Cabinet press briefing today.

He explained that persons in shelters will benefit from semi-permanent housing solutions, under the shelter recovery programme.

Commander Gayle said up to October 26, $1.69 billion was gained in net donation, towards Hurricane Melissa response.

Under the Government’s direct roof repair programme, ODPEM has so far spent $194 million on procuring building materials, while $300 million worth of building materials and tools have been utilised to repair 500 roofs under Phase 1 of the programme.

That is the call from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) as it stages protests at four schools in  western Jamaica to highlight the slow pace of recovery in the education sector, one year after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The protest  began at 10:00 a.m., at  Holland High School in Trelawny .

The other schools where protests are taking place are : Unity Primary and Infant in Westmoreland, Bompton Primary in St. Elizabeth and Cambridge Primary  in St. James.

JTA President La Sonja Harrison says the association is standing in solidarity with affected schools, noting that many have yet to fully recover while some students and teachers continue to face challenges returning to normalcy.

She adds that the hurricane exposed vulnerabilities in school infrastructure arguing that the situation underscores the need for urgent reforms.

Residents of Coopers Pen in Trelawny took to the streets this morning to protest their proposed relocation, amid growing frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the plans and a November 30 deadline to move.

More than 20 homes were demolished on the  privately owned property  in August, displacing scores of families.

The protest, which began about  8:00 a.m., saw residents carrying placards as they called for answers about where they will be relocated and whether or not  the proposed site will be ready to accommodate them.

Speaking to IRIE FM News, one resident questioned the readiness of the proposed relocation site, pointing to what she described as a lack of the necessary infrastructure.

She expressed distrust over the arrangements, questioning if  residents who leave their current homes will be able to occupy the land earmarked for them.

She emphasized that she is not prepared to move without greater clarity and assurances about the relocation process.

Meantime, Councillor for Falmouth Division Garth Wilkinson is questioning whether or not the November 30 deadline can be extended, arguing that little meaningful progress has been made on the relocation plan.

Wilkinson said it makes little sense to maintain the deadline when key issues surrounding the relocation remain unresolved.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith says that while some countries have agreed to accept criminals under third-country arrangements with the United States, Jamaica is not among them.

She made the clarification during a post-Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House this morning.

It follows yesterday’s publication by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which declared that the North American nation has removed some of its most serious criminal offenders to third countries under such arrangements.

The publication cites individuals convicted of offences including murder, rape, child sexual offences and drug trafficking.

The Foreign Affairs Minister explained that persons being sent to Jamaica are individuals who entered the U.S. illegally.

Meanwhile, Johnson Smith said that as at October 28, nine more TCNs have departed the island.

Yesterday, she announced that one of the 22 who arrived on October 13 had left the country.

National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, is standing firmly behind the Government’s decision to accept Third Country Nationals (TCNs) from the United States, insisting that none of the individuals in Jamaica under the arrangement has a criminal background.

22 TCNs arrived on the island on October 13. Ten have left, while another has expressed a desire to stay in Jamaica.

The issue has taken on added significance following yesterday’s publication by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which declared that the North American nation has removed some of its most serious criminal offenders to third countries under such arrangements.

The publication cites individuals convicted of offences including murder, rape, child sexual offences and drug trafficking.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has defended the removals, arguing that third-country arrangements allow the U.S. to deport individuals whose countries of origin may not readily accept them.

Speaking with IRIE FM News this morning about the DHS publication, Dr. Chang insisted that the necessary vetting was conducted before the TCNs were accepted.

He stressed that the arrangement with Jamaica is designed to ensure that the TCNs remain in the country only for a short period.

The National Security Minister also maintained that the Government will not make public the memorandum of understanding governing the TCN arrangement with the U.S.

The Government intends to seek Parliamentary approval for a further temporary suspension of the fiscal rules for 2027/2028 to accommodate the scale of recovery and reconstruction following Hurricane Melissa.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness made the disclosure during a special press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday.

A suspension of fiscal rules means the Government temporarily pauses legally binding limits on borrowing, public debt or budget deficits so it can respond to the hurricane without breaking the law.

The rules were suspended last December for one year after the Category 5 storm.

Dr. Holness said the Government has to be more frugal as it targets support for businesses and households, amid economic pressure.

The Prime Minister said the Government will spend on things that improve people’s welfare and bring growth.

Support employees at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, are reportedly on a go-slow to highlight their grouse about wage concerns.

The support staff include: drivers, ancillary workers and other employees who perform administrative, technical, operational, or logistical duties to keep daily operations running smoothly.

On Monday, a video of some protesting workers marching and chanting ‘No Money – No Graduation’ went viral on social media.

First Vice President of the University and Allied Workers Union, Clifton Grant, said following Monday’s protest march, the workers staged a sit-in for two hours and were on go-slow yesterday.

Mr. Grant said this is expected to continue for the rest of the week.

He explained that one issue relates to the Government’s compensation review period, which the workers argue should start at 2022, not at 2024, as is being proposed by the university’s management.

Mr Grant said another issue relates to an agreement between the Government and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions for an $80,000 lump sum, which should have been paid with October salaries.

Grant said a meeting with the Labour Ministry has been set for tomorrow, and it is hoped that it will be fruitful.

Donations received by Jamaica for the Hurricane Melissa response amounted to approximately $1.7 billion as of October 26.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness gave the update at a press briefing yesterday.

Dr. Holness stated that these donations represent less than 2 per cent of the total taxpayer resources utilised for the response.

He noted that, to date, the Government has spent approximately $84 billion toward recovery efforts.

Funds were allocated to various Government projects, such as housing.