Cabinet to discuss additional money for recovery efforts

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that Cabinet will today discuss additional allocations that are to be made to continue recovery efforts in the aftermath of the recent heavy rains.

"We made some reserves in the budget to be able to address these kinds of events ... on Tuesday, in Parliament, I will further address the nation as to what we will do to address this issue," he noted. Holness added that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to mobilise other forms of support from the Government such as food and shelter.

The prime minister toured the significantly affected parishes of St Andrew and St Thomas on Sunday both by air and land, to get a first-hand look at the damage from the severe weather system, which affected the island on November 16 and 17. Heavy rains pounded the island over the two days, particularly southern and eastern parishes, with reports of landslides and flooding in several communities. Holness reported that about 95 per cent of damaged roads have now been cleared.

He said that more than 70 roads were affected and the relevant agencies of Government, including the National Works Agency, moved swiftly to mobilise equipment and have roads cleared.

Those roads that remained blocked may require "heavier equipment and the deployment of technical resources," especially based on their remoteness.