More than 116,000 buildings severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Tuesday disclosed that about 116,000 structures were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Holness told Parliament that the impact was “severe or catastrophic damage”.

He said this was revealed during a national housing damage assessment.

He said the damage was concentrated across St Elizabeth, Manchester, and Westmoreland.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has urged Jamaicans in sections of the island which were not significantly damaged by Hurricane Melissa to “get the economy up and running right away”.

He said the Government’s insistence on having economic activity restarted immediately is not insensitive, but vital to ensuring the survival of the country.

Noting that the parishes most affected by the hurricane are critical to Jamaica’s agricultural and tourism output, Holness said other parishes will have to increase their output to help make up for the revenue loss.

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