NEARLY 600 persons whose homes and businesses were flooded on January 1 of this year, when torrential rains lashed sections of St James, are to receive $8 million in grants from government.

Minister of Water and Housing Karl Blythe, said Cabinet had approved the sum for the flood victims, who would be receiving between $5,000 and $100,000, over the next two weeks. The money will be disbursed through the St James Parish Council’s disaster committee.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, during a tour of sections of Union Street and North Gully, which were among those hardest hit, Blythe was adamant that partisan politics was not part of the consideration for the benefit.

He said a system was in place whereby the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management’s (ODPEM) welfare committee goes out into the communities and assesses the damage wreaked. Persons can also go to their parish councils and make reports.

“Depending on what is reported to them, they do what is known as an investigation of each case; and depending on the investigations (a recommendation is made),” Blythe said.

But businesswoman, Patricia Kerr, who was presented with a cheque for $50,000 said the money would not clear her expenses but would help to offset the costs.

“Flooding has been happening in this area for a number of years now and it is first time that a government was coming to help us,” she said.

Ralston Griffiths, a tailor who lost machines and clothing during the flood received a cheque for $80,000.

The January rains affected about 10 communities across St James including Flankers, Adelphi, Content, Albion Lane, Lilliput and Green Pond, leaving damage estimated at more than $100 million.

Blythe said findings by the parish disaster committee following the rain and a subsequent investigation identified all the beneficiaries of the grant.

The Observer has learnt that persons have recently been turning up at the parish council, claiming that they were affected. But Blythe said these arguments would not be entertained.

“The evaluation has already been done and we are simply dealing with those persons who have been recommended by that office, so no need for everybody to be crowding that office at this time, it would be a little bit too late,” he said.

Much of the flooding that took place in Montego Bay resulted from the North Gully which was severely damaged by the raging waters.

Blocked drains were said to be responsible for the flooding that occurred along lower Union Street but that problem is yet to be rectified. According to Blythe the funding is now in place and a contract would soon be awarded.

“The technical work has already been done and the money is also at the parish council, but we have not awarded the contract and that will cost approximately $3 million to repair,” Blythe said.

He said the flow of the drain would have to be changed and its size extended in order to prevent a recurrence of the problem.