Jamaican gov't details J$67 billion Hurricane Melissa recovery spending
Key Points(5)
- Eight months after Category Five Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica in October 2025, the Government is now outlining how it has spent $67 billion on recovery and rebuilding efforts across multiple sectors.
- Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams provided the breakdown during Wednesday’s Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, saying the expenditure was approved through the third and fourth supplementary estimates for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
- She said the funds were distributed across ministries and agencies to repair infrastructure, support households, and restore services after widespread damage caused by the storm.
- The largest allocation went to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, which received $7.5 billion for road repairs and debris removal.
- The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development was allocated $4.6 billion to support parish-level recovery work, while the Ministry of Water, Environment, Climate Change received $3.2 billion.
Eight months after Category Five Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica in October 2025, the Government is now outlining how it has spent J$67 billion on recovery and rebuilding efforts across multiple sectors.
Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams provided the breakdown during Wednesday’s Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, saying the expenditure was approved through the third and fourth supplementary estimates for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
She said the funds were distributed across ministries and agencies to repair infrastructure, support households, and restore services after widespread damage caused by the storm.
The largest allocation went to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, which received $7.5 billion for road repairs and debris removal.
The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development was allocated $4.6 billion to support parish-level recovery work, while the Ministry of Water, Environment, Climate Change received $3.2 billion.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining was given $3 billion to assist farmers and fishers, and the Ministry of Tourism received $3.4 billion to support recovery in the sector.
The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information received $2.3 billion, while the Ministry of Health and Wellness was allocated $1.965 billion, with an additional $400 million under the fourth supplementary estimate. Bellevue Hospital received $35 million.
Other allocations included $280 million for the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, $20 million for Industry, Investment and Commerce, and $1.5 billion for the Ministry of Energy, reflecting damage to infrastructure including Petrojam.
The Office of the Prime Minister received $189 million, while the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service was allocated $57 million.
Williams also said $10 billion was provided to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme to help rebuild damaged homes.
She added that the third supplementary estimate also included a $24 billion loan to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), bringing total spending under that tranche to $53.6 billion.
The Government said the spending reflects the scale of destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa and the cost of restoring critical services and infrastructure across the island.
