Jamaica's Finance Minister details $67 billion hurricane recovery fund allocation

Jamaica's Minister of Finance and Public Service, Fayval Williams, has provided a comprehensive breakdown of the $67 billion allocated by the government to revitalize key local sectors following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa last year. The minister detailed the distribution of these funds across various ministries during a post-Cabinet press briefing.

Williams explained that the funds were disbursed through third and fourth supplementary budgets in the last fiscal year. The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development received a substantial $7.5 billion, primarily designated for road repairs and debris clearing. The tourism sector, crucial to the island's economy, was allocated $3.4 billion to repair damaged infrastructure and support industry workers.

Other significant allocations included $3 billion for the Ministry of Agriculture, $4.6 billion for the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, and $3.2 billion for the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change. The Ministry of Education received $2.3 billion, while the Ministry of Health was granted $1.965 billion, with an additional $35 million specifically for Bellevue Hospital in Kingston.

The total allocation also incorporates $25 billion loaned to the Jamaica Public Service Company. Williams clarified that the third supplementary accounted for $53.6 billion, with the remaining $13.4 billion distributed through the fourth supplementary, bringing the total to $67 billion. This extensive financial package aims to facilitate a robust recovery and revival of the island's critical sectors.

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I am here to just walk through, pretty quickly, where that went to and what ministries and how it got there. During the last fiscal year, we did a third and a fourth supplementary in order to allocate funds to ministries.