By Sashell Williams

The government will have to make changes to its spending plan to pay for flood damage across the country.

The National Works Agency (NWA) estimates the damage at nearly J$2 billion (US$13.7 million); however, speaking during a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasised that this will have to be paid for through existing funds in the budget.

He said there will be no new allocations.

“We’re going to stay within the fiscal limits set,” said Holness.

Several roads and other infrastructure were severely impacted over the weekend as the outer bands of Tropical Storm Zeta lashed the island.

The Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine was reopened on Tuesday after boulders blocked the road.
Photo: NWA Twitter

According to the Prime Minister, all 14 parishes reported damage, with southern parishes more severely impacted than those in the north.

Holness said the $2 billion price tag includes clearing and patching roads, cleaning drains, as well as creating access to communities that were cut off due to landslides and down trees.

He noted, however, that the figure does not include permanently fixing the damaged infrastructure.

“Approximately 60 per cent of parochial roads were also affected with Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon and Manchester being the parishes mostly impacted. Preliminary estimates are that the damage to parochial roads will run in excess of several hundred million dollars,” he added.

Holness noted that given the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government would be prioritising how it spends the island’s resources.

“We have to be very strategic in how we allocate and use scarce resources; both to be administered in the management of the pandemic and also in the management of these disruptive and destructive weather events,” he said.

“Part of being strategic means that we have to give priorities. The way in which we will therefore expend the resources will be directed by the imperative of getting the economy back on track, improving our productivity and, of course, dealing with those persons who have suffered real damage and are in real need and dealing with the most vulnerable in our society,” he added.

Meanwhile, Members of Parliament will receive $3 million each to help constituents who’ve been impacted by flooding and landslides.

Prime Minister Holness said MPs will receive $1.5 million from the Housing Fund to help them fix their houses.

Each constituency will also get $1.5 million from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security as “rehabilitation grants”, which can be used to help shopkeepers, restaurants, bars and small businesses, restock.

Noting weather reports that forecast more rain across the island over the next couple of days, Holness encouraged MPs to prioritise the use of funds.

“$1.5 million is not a lot of money, [and] I know our MPs know how to make it stretch but there’s always a breaking point,” he said.

He added the Government will be actively looking for ways to boost the funds.

“We will be scouring the budget to see what additional funds we can find to supplement that amount, but I urge the Jamaican people to be reasonable and to be patient,” Holness said.

“We’re going to do our best to ensure that no Jamaican is left behind and that we’re able to respond as best as we can,” he added.