News from the OPM

"This moratorium is particularly timely as families prepare for the back-to-school period. This is a special moratorium arrangement for mortgagors impacted by the storm. NHT continues to facilitate general applications for moratoriums for persons impacted by loss of income and other special circumstances.” – Prime Minister Holness -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Government has approved a relief package for persons who suffered infrastructure damage to their homes as a result of Hurricane Beryl, which battered sections of the island two weeks ago. Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the special recovery initiatives are to support Jamaicans who were impacted and enhance long-term disaster resilience within communities. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (July 16), the Prime Minister announced that all NHT mortgagors are covered under the NHT’s comprehensive House Owners Policy, which protects against various types of damage, including fires, hurricanes, windstorms, and full floods. "The NHT has already received numerous inquiries and claims following Hurricane Beryl. The NHT has mobilized its branches to anticipate and process the claims to be submitted by mortgagors in the coming days," stated Prime Minister Holness. To assist mortgagors affected by Hurricane Beryl, the NHT is offering a moratorium of three to six months on mortgage payments. This special arrangement will…

"In the hardest-hit areas, we are seeing incremental movements towards recovery. The JDF and the line ministries will work together for synergy to ensure that the people of Jamaica are properly supported and served." - Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness has instructed that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) play a crucial role in disaster relief, recovery, and coordination efforts following the passage of Hurricane Beryl. The Disaster Assistance Relief Team (DART) of the JDF has been instrumental in providing emergency aid, clearing debris, restoring essential services, and ensuring public order and safety. Prime Minister Holness yesterday (July 13) visited the command site established by the DART in Rocky Point, Clarendon, and emphasized the integral role of the JDF in the nation's disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. "Jamaica has a well-established disaster preparedness response mechanism coordinated through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), which involves multiple entities, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Health, local municipal authorities, the police force, and the JDF," said Prime Minister Holness. "The JDF acts as a multiplier of resources, providing essential capabilities that significantly enhance our disaster response." In that regard, Prime Minister Holness…

"I want to say to our pensioners that you are always forefront in our thoughts as we try to structure the economy, so that you are able to survive in it.” -Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a significant move to support the most vulnerable members of society, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced new provisions under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) to assist pensioners in need. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to caring for those who have dedicated their lives to the nation and now require support in their later years. Prime Minister Holness addressed the critical issue of housing for pensioners facing hard times, particularly those without a place to live. He affirmed his commitment to using the New Social Housing Programme to provide support to these individuals. “Today, I am making a commitment to grant the executive body of the Government Pensioners Association (GPA) the authority to recommend two beneficiaries each year under the New Social Housing Programme," stated Prime Minister Holness. This initiative will allow the association to recommend two pensioners each year who are in genuine need of housing assistance. However, Prime Minister Holness emphasized the importance of a thorough assessment to ensure that…

"The goal of the New Social Housing Programme is to ensure that the homes we provide are sustainable and solid structures. We are dedicated to building homes that can withstand natural disasters and offer safety and security to our citizens." - Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Coleman and his family are thanking God, the Government, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness that the house, which was handed over to them under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), withstood the impact of Category 4 Hurricane Beryl. Not only that, the house became a shelter for many neighbours in Rocky Point, Clarendon, as Beryl battered the coastal community. The Coleman family is one of 286 families across the island who are beneficiaries of the NSHP. Mr. Coleman was elated as he and his family stopped Prime Minister Holness, who was touring the area on Saturday (July 13), to do further assessments of the needs of the community, which was hard hit by the Hurricane. “Mr. Prime Minister, this was a safe haven for us and other members of the community. The water was rising for some neighbours, and others lost their roof. They rushed to us, and we allowed them in. It was…

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, in a solid commitment to enhancing community health and well-being, conducted the first in the series of sensitisation sessions to highlight the renewed focus on the primary healthcare reform programme. Dubbed ‘Operation Refresh’, this programme was announced Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP in May during his Sectoral Presentation and is intended to be two -pronged – standardizing the health centres infrastructure and increasing the number of home visits from the country’s more than 2,000 Community Health Aides (CHAs). The first sensitisation session was held in St. Ann on Friday, July 12 with the more than 130 CHAs in that parish, where the Minister noted that “No one knows your community members like you and oftentimes Community Health Aides are the first public health point of contact at the community and home levels. We need to support our community members as part of the prevention and management of the Non-Communicable Disease epidemic that continues to negatively impact the quality of life for thousands of Jamaicans. This is why the Government of Jamaica is investing J$1Billion to this initiative.” Additionally, Dr Tufton reiterated that as a part of the primary…

“None of these contracts are just handed over to anyone to build the house. There is a sense among many persons in Jamaica that Government can take up a works contract and say, ‘My friend here you go’. That may have been the case years 20-30 years ago, but that is certainly not the case today. – Prime Minister Holness --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government has a very robust system to ensure transparency and accountability in the award of infrastructure contracts particularly, housing contracts. Speaking today (July 12) at the handover of a social housing unit in Hanover, Prime Minister Holness made it clear that all government contracts and services must be subject to a rules-based process and systems of laws that are independent of political interference. “None of these contracts are just handed over to anyone to build the house. There is a sense among many persons in Jamaica that Government can take up a works contract and say, ‘My friend here you go’. That may have been the case years 20-30 years ago, but that is certainly not the case today. Everything goes through a competitive process, a rules-based process,” said Prime Minister Holness. Prime…

“The government is closely monitoring market activities to prevent unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of the disaster for financial gain. Our citizens should have access to the necessary supplies at fair prices.” - Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Government has taken prompt and decisive actions to prevent price gouging, or the charging of high prices on critical commodity items in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared that the government has taken a zero-tolerance approach to prevent the unfair practice. An order has been issued under the Trade Act to regulate prices and ensure fair access to necessary supplies, protecting citizens from exploitation. “The government is closely monitoring market activities to prevent unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of the disaster for financial gain. Our citizens should have access to the necessary supplies at fair prices,” Prime Minister Holness said. The Prime Minister noted that the government recognizes the significant hardship many Jamaicans are facing during this time and will not allow price gouging to exacerbate the situation. "I urge the public to report any instance of price gouging, meaning an increase in price over and above what you were paying for the same product or service before the…

"The first response was the emergency relief which includes food, care packages and so forth. This response now must be about helping persons to recover and get back on their feet." - Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Government has outlined a comprehensive relief package for persons devastated by Hurricane Beryl. Prime Minister Andrew Holness outlined the assistance measures in Parliament yesterday (July 9) as he gave a detailed update on the government’s efforts a week after Category 4 Hurricane Beryl brushed the southern section of the island. The Prime Minister has announced an additional funding of four million dollars for each constituency to further support recovery efforts. This allocation is to be used for shelter, economic rehabilitation, emergency clearing of roads, and removing fallen trees. It will follow the completion and proper documentation of the initial funds. "The first response was the emergency relief, which includes food, care packages, and so forth. This response now must be about helping persons to recover and get back on their feet," Prime Minister Holness explained. Recognizing that some areas were more severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl, an extra $3 million will be allocated to constituencies with higher damage assessments. These assessments, conducted by the…

"It is a rough time and for the areas that I have toured, I want to say to the people there, I see your pain. I feel your pain and I'm working as hard as I can to make your recovery as quick and as sustainable as possible." - Prime Minister Holness ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl across Jamaica, the Government has endorsed the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation’s Building Jamaica Better Fund, while launching the Disaster Fund for the facilitation of donations towards relief and recovery efforts. Addressing the nation at the launch of the Building Jamaica Better Fund during a press conference on Monday (July 8) at Jamaica House, Prime Minister Andrew Holness reassured residents that help is on the way. He said, “It is a rough time and for the areas that I have toured, I want to say to the people there, I see your pain. I feel your pain and I'm working as hard as I can to make your recovery as quick and as sustainable as possible.” In commending the NCB Foundation, the Prime Minister said the Build Jamaica Better Fund is a step in a direction towards quick and…