JTA allocates $35 million to Hurricane Melissa relief for teachers

 

The Central Executive of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) has approved the release of more than $30 million from its investment fund to aid in the relief and recovery of the island's teachers who have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa. 

 

JTA President Mark Malabver says the funds will assist teachers, particularly those in Western Jamaica, who have suffered significant losses.

 

"The Central Executive has approved a proposal that was submitted to them. After much interrogation, it was approved in terms of setting up a national disaster relief response committee. In addition to that, the regional executives would also be set up to treat with the emergency response to the needs of our members. The Central Executive has also approved a proposal to provide $35 million in initial support to all members - $3 million of that will go towards immediate support, $2 million for administrative costs and the $30 million to help the process of rebuilding for some of our members. It is a drop in the bucket because already we are doing the assessment and it is overwhelming in terms of the needs," he admitted.

 

He said the JTA will also be seeking additional funding from its overseas partners and the diaspora to assist the teachers. 

 

Mr. Malabver added that the teachers will be asked to sign forms for the assistance to rebuild their homes.

 

"The devastation across the island with respect to our members is very significant. We have been out in the field. We have been meeting up with our members and we have been seeking to supply them with immediate relief at this point in time, and we will continue to do so. In the coming weeks, we will be moving into the Black River [and] Westmoreland area to see how best we can find our members and provide supplies to them. We are asking our members that are in need of immediate supplies to reach out to us and we will try and make arrangements to get it to them as we go through the communities," he urged.

 

Mr. Malabver said the association will be purchasing supplies soon as the JTA intends to begin delivering relief supplies this week to affected teachers. 

 

"The Central Executive has agreed that we should take the necessary steps to start to purchase supplies and this will be along with those that persons have been donating. We just want to say to the teachers who have been donating, thank you. And we want to say to those other teachers, to the wider society, come on board and make a donation. We are asking for relief supplies. You can purchase some relief supplies and take it to the respective JTA offices and we will ensure that it reaches the hands of those who are in need," the JTA president appealed.