Claremont Market still waiting on roof repairs

In April, The Gleaner reported that six months after Hurricane Melissa damaged the Claremont Market in southeast St Ann, repairs had not begun, leaving the facility without a roof.

Another six months have passed and the market remains roofless, according to councillor for the Claremont division, Kaydian Harty.

“It has been one year, basically, since the passing of Hurricane Melissa, and vendors in the Claremont Market are still without a roof that was badly damaged by the hurricane,” Harty told The Gleaner.

Damage to the market has been estimated at $8 million, and the reason for the delay remains unchanged: an outstanding insurance payout.

“There have been visits by the parish council and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and, to date, nothing. The municipal corporation stated that they were awaiting payment from the corporation’s insurance company and the damages were assessed,” she said.

Heavy rains associated with a persistent trough system rendered the market inoperable last Saturday. When The Gleaner visited the facility on Monday, only two vendors were using the market, sheltering beneath a section where part of the roof remains intact. They declined to speak with the media.

Damaged zinc sheets lay on the market floor, though, apart from the missing roof, the facility appeared to be in good condition.

The slow pace of insurance settlements has also drawn the attention of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which recently announced that it would publish an updated assessment of Hurricane Melissa-related insurance claims on Friday, as part of efforts to encourage insurers to settle outstanding claims.

The FSC’s executive director, Keron Burrell, noted that, nearly a year after the hurricane, many households and businesses were still awaiting settlement, and warned that prolonged delays could hamper Jamaica’s economic recovery.

Meanwhile, residents of Steerfield, also in the Claremont division, are awaiting repairs to their community centre, which was damaged during the hurricane.

“It was assessed and, to date, we have heard nothing further about the timeline for possible repairs. Many residents in the Claremont division, after their homes were assessed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, still, at this point, have not heard anything further about assistance.”

Under the Hurricane Grant Programme, known as the Restoration of Owner-Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) initiative, assistance is provided following assessments. Grants range from $75,000 for minor damage to $200,000 for major damage and $500,000 for severe damage.

carl.gilchrist@gleanerjm.com