FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Jamaican Government is maintaining its contentious commitment to allocate $75 million (JMD) in assistance to places of worship severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa, despite facing significant political opposition. Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie unequivocally stated that the administration will not reverse its decision, emphasizing the critical role churches play in community recovery and mental health support following the Category 5 storm.
The controversy emerged from within the ruling Jamaica Labour Party itself, with St Catherine South Western MP Everald Warmington leading criticism against the funding initiative. Nevertheless, Minister McKenzie defended the policy during a community outreach event hosted by Kingston’s Transform Life Church in Trelawny, highlighting that 176 religious institutions across the five most devastated parishes have already submitted applications for assistance.
Minister McKenzie clarified that the funding is not intended for full reconstruction of damaged churches but rather for cleanup operations and minor repairs. He emphasized the non-political role of religious organizations in providing emotional counseling and practical support to distressed communities, recounting an encounter with an emotionally unstable woman in Santa Cruz who specifically requested non-political counseling.
Social Development Commission Executive Director Omar Frith provided detailed application statistics: 46 from Westmoreland, 41 from St James, 40 from St Elizabeth, 30 from Trelawny, and 19 from Hanover. Verification processes for these applications are commencing immediately before funds are disbursed.
The minister personally commended Transform Life Church for their ongoing community support efforts, noting their proximity to his ministry’s headquarters in Kingston and their collaborative approach to public assistance despite physical separation by a fence.