The heavy rains that lashed the island between November 16 and 18 left damage to the road network in the amount of $409 million.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness provided the figure during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. He said several communities, in particular in the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, St Thomas, Portland and St Mary were impacted by the flood rains that were associated with Tropical Cyclone 22.

“Our assessment is that 69 roads were badly affected by landslides, mudflows, downed trees and inundation which rendered some communities inaccessible and some marooned,” said the prime minister. He stated that the initial damage assessment estimate by the National Works Agency is somewhere in the region of $409 million.

“We’ve had damage estimates before which have been far more significant than this so we’re very grateful that although there was damage, it was not of any significant extent,” Holness said. He pointed out that although the impact was not widespread when compared to other countries, “for those who were affected, it was intense and significant”.

The prime minister highlighted that the recently-built infrastructure, highways and roads “have stood up to the test of this tropical storm and indeed previous tropical storms”.

Meanwhile, following a helicopter tour of parts of St Andrew and St Thomas which were badly affected, the prime minister said it was obvious that river training was needed for the parish of St Thomas. It will cost an estimated $700 million to undertake the river training he said.