Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has renewed his defence of the Government’s response to Hurricane Melissa, rejecting claims that his Administration has failed to provide assistance to affected Jamaicans while acknowledging that thousands of households are still waiting for support.
Speaking at the National Housing Trust’s Construction Scholarship awards ceremony at Jamaica House in St Andrew on Wednesday, November 11, Holness appeared to take a swipe at dancehall entertainer Beenie Man, who has publicly questioned the handling and distribution of hurricane relief funds.
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“I will continue to say it over and over again, and I don’t care who vex. Go make a song of it,” Holness declared, referencing the entertainer’s criticism and his release of a song titled Weh Di Money Deh, which questions whether donated funds are reaching those in need.
The Prime Minister said the Government’s response should be assessed in the context of the scale of the disaster and the resources required for recovery. He acknowledged that concerns about the pace of assistance and the adequacy of individual grants were legitimate, but insisted that claims of Government inaction were false.
Holness reported that the National Housing Trust had spent approximately $13.3 billion on hurricane-related assistance, including $2.9 billion in grants distributed to 7,600 Jamaicans. He also said the Government had spent close to $12 billion on direct assistance and was seeking an additional $9.6 billion to address outstanding needs.
However, he acknowledged that of approximately 110,000 households identified as requiring assistance, just over 50,000 had received support, leaving many still awaiting relief.
Holness urged Jamaicans, particularly young people, to challenge misinformation while remaining open to legitimate criticism of the recovery process. He argued that inaccurate claims about the Government’s response could undermine public confidence and damage the country’s social stability.
