Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has called on private insurance companies to speed up the settlement of claims linked to Hurricane Melissa, warning that delays are stalling Jamaica’s recovery.

Speaking on Thursday at a ceremony in Malvern, St Elizabeth, where letters of possession were handed over for 27 service lots, Holness commended the National Housing Trust (NHT) for its swift response to hurricane-related claims while challenging private insurers to follow suit.

“I want to commend the NHT for being quick in making the insurance payments, and I want to challenge the private insurers to speed up the payments on the claims. That is an important part of the recovery from Hurricane Melissa,” he said.