Holness pumps another $9.65b into ROOFS

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has announced another $9.65 billion for the Restoration of Owner and Occupant Family Shelter (ROOFS) programme as the Government races to get financial assistance to families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

With more than 118,000 households assessed as needing help and roughly half having received assistance, he has set a December target for reaching 90 per cent of those assessed and an end-of-January deadline for the remainder.

Holness said the additional funding was intended to complete payments under the programme, which provides financial assistance to households based on the extent of damage to their homes. He also charged the Ministry of Labour and Social Security with ensuring that people who have completed the required checks receive their benefits.