Government Answers Audit on Slow Use of Hurricane Donation Funds

Officials are pushing back against criticism that hurricane recovery money has moved too slowly, after a recent audit showed that only a fraction of donated funds has left the books so far.

Government Senator Marlon Morgan addressed the findings in public comments. The review, he said, recorded J$1.44 billion in donations for storm recovery, with just J$26 million, or about 1.8 per cent, spent to date.

Morgan stressed that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) had to complete several steps before disbursing cash, so spending could be tracked and defended in full.

He also outlined where portions of the money are going. Morgan said J$240 million has gone toward the Government of Jamaica’s directed roof repair programme, J$600 million toward building bases for modular housing for people who lost their homes, and a further J$560 million set aside for other recovery work.