Total gov’t allocation for hurricane Melissa relief and response put at over $66B

The total government allocation for hurricane Melissa relief and response has been put at over 66 billion dollars.

Finance Minister Fayval Williams stated the figure as she informed the lower house today, of adjustments made to the budget, as outlined in the fourth supplementary estimates.

She said the central government expenditure estimates are being adjusted to incorporate incremental expenditure of over 14 billion dollars.

The changes include allocations for the health ministry’s hurricane response.

The minister noted that the additional 13 billion dollars in allocations, include the money loaned to the Jamaica Public Service, JPS.

The estimates are being deliberated on by parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, PAAC.