PM: Beryl’s toll on main roads tops $10 billion

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the damage to Jamaica’s main roads following the passage of monster system Hurricane Beryl has so far totalled $10.2 billion and could increase at the end of a final assessment.

Holness, who made the disclosure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said the figure from the National Works Agency (NWA) was a preliminary estimate.

He said that main roads make up a fifth of the 25,000 kilometres of roads that connect the country. The remaining 20,000 kilometres are parochial roads.

He added that while assessments are still underway, some 500 parochial roads were damaged during the Category 4 hurricane’s passage a week ago.

The prime minister said many areas of the country remain inaccessible with more than 200 corridors blocked, hampering relief efforts.

On Tuesday afternoon, the NWA said that 95 per cent of the blocked roads now afford at least single-lane passage, adding that on Tuesday, it became aware of 50 additional blocked areas. Only 24 road sections remain impassable with the majority in St Thomas, St Andrew and Hanover, the agency said in a release.

Holness told colleague legislators that the blocked roads have caused limited access to critical services, including at hospitals, 38 per cent of which have been damaged.

He said the estimated cost to repair those damaged, mainly infrastructural works, is in excess of $1.8 billion.

“The hurricane caused widespread outages of electricity, water and telecommunication services. The absence of these services has exacerbated the suffering of our people who are struggling to cope with the immediate aftermath of the storm,” said Holness.

Further, Holness said agricultural lands, fisheries and small businesses, which form the backbone of Jamaica’s economy, have been severely impacted, leaving many without the means to support their families.

He said moving forward, the Government’s focus has shifted to relief efforts that provide immediate assistance and lay the groundwork for long-term recovery and resilience.

REACH PROGRAMME

Announcing for the first time the Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) programme, Holness said essential food supplies will be distributed, the restoration of utilities will take place, there will be housing and reconstruction support, and the economic recovery and restoration of livelihood.

Additionally, he said $4 million will be allocated to each member of parliament (MP) to respond to the immediate needs of constituents.

At the same time, he cautioned that the office of the MP is not the office of social security and welfare, noting that they are to assist in identifying emergencies. He said that ultimately, it is the civil and public service that is charged with that task and must respond.

“Even though in our system MPs have taken on this first responder role, it is not something that we should entrench. It is not something that we should encourage,” said Holness.

Ahead of Hurricane Beryl, the Government allocated $5 million per constituency for emergency hurricane preparations and response efforts.

Holness said the latest allocation will also be channelled through the Constituency Development Fund.

However, he said funds will not be released until the allocation of the first $5 million has been completed, meaning all documentation required for an audit is submitted.

“Once that is done, the second allocation of $4 million per constituency will be made. This, however, will be focused mostly on the shelter issues and the economic recovery,” Holness said.

He said an additional $3 million will be allocated to constituencies where it has been determined that the damage is more severe.

This takes into account an assessment from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, an assessment of utilities and public infrastructure.

He warned that the distribution of relief must be done in a non-partisan way, charging that there should be no colour or affiliation in a catastrophe or disaster.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com