KINGSTON, Jamaica — A delegation from the People’s National Party earlier this week met with the Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, Bernardo Guanche Hernández, to convey their regrets on the destruction of property in Cuba caused by the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

According to a news release from the party, the delegation consisted of Vice-President Angela Brown-Burke; Deputy Chairman Anthony Hylton; Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Dr Morais Guy; General Secretary Paul Burke; and President of the National Workers Union Andre Anderson.

They also expressed to the ambassador their thanks and appreciation to the Government of Cuba for dispatching members of the Cuban Medical Brigade to assist with the relief efforts in Haiti, notwithstanding their own challenges.

The Government of Cuba was also reportedly congratulated for its swift and effective response to its citizens who were affected by the onslaught of Hurricane Matthew. The ambassador explained that the response includes:

• A decision to finance 50 per cent of spending on building materials to all citizens whose houses have been devastated by Hurricane Matthew in the eastern part of the country.

• Victims may apply for bank loans with lower interest rates and longer terms of payment and in cases of total collapse of houses and roofs, the State will assume the payment of the interest.

• People whose income is not sufficient to have access to bank loans retain the right to request the municipal government’s subsidy or bonus under the state budget.

• Municipal defence councils of local government (entity equivalent to town councils) will be responsible for determining the extent of the damage in each house and approve the resources to allocate to fix the damages.

The People’s National Party says it has already established a mechanism where the public can make contribution and donation to Haiti as priority and also to the Cuban relief programme.