Jamaica PM Announces Extra Funding for ROOFS Disaster Relief

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness told residents of Whitehouse in Westmoreland that the government will allocate additional money to the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme, which supports households whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Melissa. The first phase of ROOFS was funded with a $10 billion budget, and the new allocation will be announced within days, though the exact amount and payment schedule were not disclosed. Holness said the timing of payments will depend on revenue availability and that the programme could be completed by December, but he did not guarantee that deadline.

The announcement was made during a site visit by the National Road Safety and Redevelopment Authority, emphasizing the government's intent to assist those still living under tarpaulins and awaiting assistance after the Category 5 storm that made landfall near New Hope in October.