Williams: Significant share of J$1.4 trillion budget to fund post-hurricane reconstruction
/ Our Today
administrator
Minister of Finance Fayval Williams announced that a significant portion of the national Budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be allocated to rebuilding infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Melissa on October 28.
Highlighting a record-breaking J$1.4 trillion allocation for the 2026/27 financial year, the Minister underscored the urgent need to repair extensive damage across western and central parishes.
“The heavy work is still ahead of us. A lot of spending will be happening in the education sector to rebuild schools… classrooms. A lot of it is going to go into the reconstruction effort for roads, for the communities that are badly torn up, and I think of Black River. We have to rebuild Black River, and that’s some serious work that is going to happen,” she noted.
Williams was speaking during Wednesday’s (March 11) Post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
She highlighted the Government’s proactive measures and the establishment of contingencies such as strong net international reserves (NIRs) and hurricane-related instruments, which enabled a next-day response to clear roads, distribute food packages, and provide other relief supplies in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.
“As a small island country situated in the hurricane zone, we have to have buffers. It’s not a ‘buck up’… it’s because we have prepared for these eventualities,” Williams said.
The finance minister committed to implementing additional future-proofing measures to safeguard the country during periods of extreme weather.
“Going forward, we want to be even more prepared. So we will take steps to ensure that we continue to have these savings… these funds that we can call on because, every year, we know that we go through the hurricane season,” Williams said.
She reiterated the Government’s commitment to guiding the nation toward full recovery and building a more resilient future in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
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