Local Government Ministry seeking to secure additional $50M to assist churches damaged during Hurricane Melissa

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says his Ministry is seeking to secure an additional $50 million to assist churches damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October.

The Government has allocated $75 million under the Community Churches Clean-Up and Restoration initiative to assist 420 churches across St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Trelawny and Hanover.

The funding is to help faith-based institutions restore their facilities and continue serving their communities.

Churches in St. Elizabeth, Hanover and Trelawny have received their grants.

74 churches in Trelawny were the latest to benefit from approximately $12.7 million in grant funding.

Mr. McKenzie points to the need faced by the churches as the reason for seeking the additional funding.

He notes that the administration has been working with churches and challenges them to become more involved in the affairs of the country.