Recovery pitch

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has unveiled a five-point recovery strategy for western Jamaica, accusing the Government of failing thousands of residents still struggling to rebuild their homes, businesses and livelihoods nearly 11 months after Hurricane Melissa.

Addressing the public session of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) 88th Annual Conference at Independence Park in Savanna-la-Mar on Sunday, Golding called for a publicly accessible reconstruction dashboard, dedicated financial support for farmers and small businesses, faster settlement of insurance claims, climate-resilient rebuilding, and a special land-titling programme for disaster-affected communities.

“We did not come here merely to describe your suffering. We came to say what must now be done,” Golding told supporters gathered in the western parish, which was among those hardest hit by the Category 5 hurricane last October.