Hurricane victims awaiting ROOFS grant left frustrated in St. James

 

The government's Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme has seemingly hit a snag in Western Jamaica as several hurricane victims report being turned away due to a lack of funds.

 

Crowds of hurricane victims from battered communities in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny and Hanover have been flocking the Western Union along Barnett Street in St. James to receive their rebuilding grants. 

 

But for many, the road to getting assistance has been almost as punishing as the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. 

 

The approved beneficiaries say they have received messages that their grants are ready for pickup. However, when they showed up, they were told there were no funds to disburse. 

 

Dwight Cunningham from Westmoreland said his transportation costs have been hefty, having travelled to Montego Bay on Thursday, Friday, Monday as well as Tuesday, without success.

 

"A borrow mi borrow," he said, when asked how he afforded his travel costs for four days. 

 

Under the ROOFS programme, the beneficiaries are receiving $75,000 for minor damage, $200,000 for major, and $500,000 for severe damage. 

 

Meanwhile, Pamela Campbell argued that wait times have been long with an extremely slow turnaround.

 

"Everyday me come here suh, money done, and not even five person get through. I came here yesterday and I never get through ... We need di money cause wi house pop down and we need di likkle money fi help wiself and we can't get through. We need them to go into each community or parish to deal with it. We cyaan have one parish in di whole country dealing with this thing," she lamented. 

 

Ernest Hendricks from St. Elizabeth said the communication gaps have also made the process gruelling. 

 

"They are saying to us that the message that we have on our phone, [that you] are to go back home, go to NIS, and to let them give you something else showing the amount of money that you are supposed to get," he pointed out, adding that this was not previously communicated. 

 

The residents informed Radio Jamaica News that they have been directed to the Barnett Street Western Union to collect their relief funds. 

 

Radio Jamaica News has brought the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and is awaiting a response.