Holness pledges transparency in distribution of hurricane relief

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is pledging that delivery of relief to Jamaicans impacted by Hurricane Beryl will be structured, transparent and fair.

The Prime Minister was speaking following an aerial and ground tour of sections of Southern Jamaica on Thursday.

Holness said while there is urgent need for relief supplies, there must be regard for the highest standards of accountability and probity.

"In the past there has been a less than structured way in the delivery of emergency relief and that has led to criticism about the transparency, even accusations of political bias in the distribution and dispensation of relief to needy citizens. It would be a real travesty if such criticism were made," he said.

Pointing to systems implemented to provide assistance to Jamaicans during the COVID-19 pandemic, Holness warned that there will be a process for accessing benefits following Hurricane Beryl, "no matter how small it is".

"So whatever the Government allocates, we must be able to trace every cent to the beneficiary. It mustn't end up in anyone else's pocket who is not the beneficiary," he said.

He noted that following a process could lead to things taking longer.

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