Melissa payouts top $54 billion, says IAJ

THE Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) is reporting that $54.35 billion in total property and motor insurance payments have been made islandwide, saying that the figure represents an 89.5 per cent settlement rate across specified categories of claims relating the Hurricane Melissa.

Highlighting the devastating impact of the October 28, 2025 Category 5 storm on western Jamaica, the report notes that St James received $30.55 billion, or 58.8 per cent of total property payments, followed by Hanover with $3.52 billion, and Westmoreland with $2.94 billion.

Combined, those parishes received $37.01 billion, or approximately 71.2 per cent of recorded property payments. St Elizabeth, however, recorded relatively low insurance payouts, despite being among the parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa.