Government allocates $500 million for drought relief ahead of school reopening

The Government has approved an additional $500 million to strengthen the national response to Jamaica’s worsening drought and extreme heat, with schools set to reopen next week.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda says $150 million will be allocated to the National Water Commission (NWC) to provide water trucks to schools, health centres, hospitals and other critical facilities, including police stations, particularly those serving as places of detention.

Another $200 million will be channelled through Members of Parliament to provide assistance in their constituencies, while $150 million will be distributed among municipalities to help communities outside the NWC’s service network.