National clean-up campaign to help restore stability following Beryl

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says several agencies in his administration have started a massive clean up and recovery programme following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl last week.

 

Speaking Saturday while on a tour of the Rocky Point Fishing Village in Clarendon, the Prime Minister said the national clean-up campaign announced by his government, aims to restore stability to a number of communities badly affected by the hurricane.

 

"It will have two elements to it. One element is the debushing and the carting away of debris and another element is the cleaning and desilting of drains. So we're trying to do a very comprehensive recovery. We're trying to ensure that the relief is given to persons to have their homes restored, but equally important is to have their livelihood restored, so we're trying to do that as well," he said, adding that this will be in conjunction with ensuring their physical environment and civil infrastructure are in a condition to allow their lives and livelihoods to continue. 

 

Members of the Jamaica Defence Force were deployed to the Rocky Point community on Saturday to assist in the recovery exercise.

 

 

Meanwhile, Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. said the government has intensified its relief programme for needy families affected by the hurricane.

 

"The social workers have been out everyday taking assessments, which include us also providing support in terms of mattresses, food packages, tarpaulins and other items to those residents [who] have been impacted. We also focus our attention on the shelters where JDF gives us support in terms of safety there, and to ensure that particularly shelters like Rocky Point...are safe spaces for us to be able to provide the service to the residents." 

 

Mr. Charles said the government will also be providing relief in places like Gimme-Me-Bit, Race Course and areas in South West Clarendon and along the south coast. 

 

The Ministry, he noted, is working with non-government organisations such as Food For The Poor and Red Cross to do assessments and provide support in "as timely a manner as possible".