Prime Minister Holness Assures Public of Highest Level of Accountability in the Management of Relief Supplies
Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has assured Jamaicans that all relief supplies received in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa are being managed under the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and probity.
Prime Minister Holness was speaking at the handover ceremony of housing supplies by New Era Housing Development, held at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) base in Luana, St. Elizabeth, on January 16, 2026.
Addressing misinformation circulating in the public domain about the handling of relief donations, the Prime Minister emphasized that the management of relief supplies adheres to the highest governance standards.
“These supplies are managed to the highest level of probity, accountability, and standards. Claims to the contrary are simply not consistent with how the system operates,” he said.
The Prime Minister explained that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is the sole government entity responsible for receiving all relief donations on behalf of the Government of Jamaica.
“ODPEM is the entity of government that receives all material and cash donations. There are established accountability mechanisms in place to ensure that everything donated is properly managed,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr. Holness further explained that while ODPEM oversees the donation process, the physical storage and management of relief supplies are largely handled by the JDF, working in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, under a structured logistics and warehousing system.
“The JDF, in conjunction with ODPEM, manages all stores and materials, which ensures a very high level of control. Relief supplies cannot be accessed outside the established process by any politician or member of the public,” he stated.
The Prime Minister further emphasized that accountability extends beyond storage and tracking to the final use of all donated materials, ensuring that relief supplies are directed only to verified beneficiaries.
“Every length of lumber, every sheet of zinc or ply is accounted for, and those materials are used to support households that have been assessed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security as requiring assistance,” the Prime Minister stated.
Dr. Holness underscored that safeguarding the integrity of the Government’s relief supply management systems is essential to maintaining public trust, preserving Jamaica’s credibility, and ensuring continued support during periods of disaster recovery. The Prime Minister said the Government remains firmly committed to upholding these accountability standards in the best interest of affected communities and the nation.