Hill warns Hurricane Melissa victims: don’t inflate your losses to get Gov’t grant

November 12, 2026

Small business operators affected by Hurricane Melissa are being warned against exaggerating their losses or making false claims.

This is as they seek a share of the Government’s $500-million Small Business Restoration Grant.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill delivered the warning during an outreach session at the First Assembly of God Church in Falmouth, Trelawny, yesterday.

Senator Hill said applicants must be honest about the damage they suffered, cautioning that inflated claims and attempts to secure compensation for items that were neither damaged nor owned by applicants could undermine the fair distribution of assistance.

He stressed that the Government’s financial resources are limited and must reach as many genuinely affected business operators as possible.

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He made it clear that applicants should not assume they will automatically receive the maximum grant of $100,000, as the amount awarded will depend on the category of assistance and the extent of their verified losses.

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Hill also urged affected operators to avoid delaying their applications, pointing out that the deadline is next Monday, November 16.