The Government will begin distributing grants today (Monday, August 5, 2024) to persons who suffered total loss of their houses due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl. 

 Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness made the announcement on Friday, (August 2, 2024), during the handing over of units under the New Social Housing Programme, to beneficiaries in North Central Clarendon. 

 “I am happy to report that come Monday, August 5, 2024, we will start the distribution of the grants for those persons who suffered total loss of their house”, he stated.  

The Prime Minister noted that many Jamaicans suffered loss and damage because of Hurricane Beryl, with some persons still without electricity and water, and many without a roof over their heads, with no wherewithal to recover. 

 However, he reiterated that the Government has outlined a comprehensive recovery plan for reconstruction, to assist families who have been verified and assessed as having suffered damage in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.  

 “You may recall that I had announced in Parliament just over $1 billion for this element of the reconstruction and recovery and the Minister of Labour and Social Security would have given the details, which would be $400,000 for persons who have been assessed as having totally lost their homes; $150,000 to persons assessed as having substantial damage and $50,000 for persons who would have been assessed as having minor damage”, he outlined. 

 The Prime Minister explained that over the next few weeks, the grants will be handed out to persons who were assessed. 

 “We hope to complete the total handing out within the next three to four weeks so that all Jamaicans who have been assessed as having suffered damage would be able to start their recovery and hopefully could be complete even before back to school”. 

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