Jamaican News

Gov’t to Assist Persons Affected by Flood Rains

The Government will be providing financial assistance to persons who have been severely affected by recent flood rains.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the funds will be taken from the Consolidated Fund.

“The Government has to now go and take a second look at its Budget to see what areas we may have to reallocate, postpone expenditure on, because it is now a priority for people to recover,” he said.

He noted that the assistance “may not be (enough) to restore everyone to their former state, but it will be sufficient to get people back on their feet”.

The Prime Minister was speaking with journalists yesterday (May 17), during a tour of areas affected.

Among the communities visited were Sunnyside in Linstead, St. Catherine; Douglas Castle, St. Ann; and Cave Valley, which is located at the border between St. Ann and Clarendon.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness is urging members of the public to show greater consideration in terms of where they build houses.

Mr. Holness said factors such as susceptibility to flooding, erosion and land slippages must be considered when choosing a location for a home, particularly in light of the increased frequency and intensity of weather events affecting Jamaica in recent years.

He noted that the Government will be more proactive in ensuring that people do not settle in areas that are likely to experience weather-related difficulties.

“The Government has already formed the view, and we will now try to put that into policy, to take a far more proactive approach to how we deal with the settlement of the land and how people choose to live,” he said.

Mr. Holness said the Government will also be moving to fast-track procedures to implement a master drainage plan for the country.

Article by: Chris Patterson
Photo from: www.jis.gov.jm

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