Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that while Jamaica was spared from the full onslaught of Tropical Storm Elsa, the island racked up a massive, $803 million infrastructure bill.

Holness, speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 6), said that based on preliminary assessments done by the National Works Agency (NWA), some 177 roads in the Jamaican transport network were impacted.

However, as at Monday, July 5, the prime minister indicated that there were no reports of blocked roads with the exception of the Old Harbour to Bannister corridor in St Catherine, which the NWA reported was flooded.

“The floodwaters have since receded and the road is again taking vehicular traffic,” he said.

Holness explained that the NWA’s estimates are still in the early stages as damage assessment continues to ascertain a full cost for permanent repairs.

“The assessment to date is in two categories: cost to clean and clear roadways and drains of silt and debris and the cost to make roads accessible,” he disclosed in Parliament.

The preliminary cost to clean and clear roadways and drains of silt and debris was set at $443 million, Holness said, adding that another $360 million would be needed to make roads accessible.

“We are therefore looking at a total cost of $803 million. These costs cover road maintenance, drain cleaning, creating access and patching—no cost for rehabilitation and other permanent repairs are included,” Holness remarked.

Despite the massive bill, Holness said he was grateful Tropical Storm Elsa’s deviated path steered it further away from Jamaica.

“First let me say how grateful I am that the country, generally, was spared the full wrath of this tropical cyclone. We give God thanks the prayers of many of us [were] answered when the system veered away from the island,” he began.

“While saying this, we did experience some impact. Hurricane Elsa affected us over the weekend, with the island experiencing heavy rainfall over the two days,” Holness added.

Though the hurricane was later downgraded to a tropical storm, it nonetheless dumped some seven to eight inches of rainfall on sections of the island.

“The [Jamaica Meteorological Service] is yet to collate all the data from the field but indications are that the highest levels of rainfall were experienced in the southeastern section of the island, hence we saw quite of bit of flooding in sections of St Catherine and Clarendon; low-lying areas were particularly affected,” Prime Minister Holness said.

“The floodwaters caused silt and debris to be washed into some of our drainage systems. The situation was made worse by the presence of solid waste such as old tyres, plastic bottles, plastic bags, old stoves and refrigerators in some drains,” he continued.

Rains associated with Tropical Storm Elsa triggered landslides, mudflows, downed trees and washed out drainage structures and undermined several roadways, rendering some communities inaccessible at the height of the storm’s intensity.

Holness further noted that no deaths were associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Elsa and thanked Jamaicans for taking every precaution as the island continues to observe the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

See related articles below:

• TS Elsa churns away from Jamaica, Met Service discontinues tropical storm warning
• TS Elsa moving away from Jamaica, tropical storm warning still in effect
• UPDATE: Flooded or impassable roads across eastern, central Jamaica
• Several roads in eastern Jamaica flooded, impassable amid passage of Tropical Storm Elsa
• Jamaica still under tropical storm warning as Elsa drenches island