Residents in Hanover, St. James urged to use Beryl relief funds to rebuild

  

Recipients of checks under the Hurricane Beryl relief effort in Hanover and St. James have been encouraged to utilise the funds to build back stronger.

 

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. handed out checks to a number of people assessed under the programme. 

 

Minister Charles says between the two parishes, more than 1200 families were adversely affected by the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

 

People whose homes suffered minor damage will receive $50,000, while those with severe damage will receive $150,000. Those whose homes were destroyed will receive grants of $400,000.

 

The minister urged the recipients to hold themselves accountable to ensure the money is used wisely. 

 

"You need to make sure that you are buying the matieral and doing what you need to do to restore your house. You have the responsibility to make sure that if you putting on zinc, you don't just put down the zince and use no little tag nail; use the hurricane strap, put the screw into the hurricane strap so that it is firmer and more resilient," he urged. 

 

Mr. Charles said the government has allocated $8 billion for the Hurricane Beryl recovery effort, with $1 billion going to the Social Security Ministry.