Prime Minister Andrew Holness has told residents in Clarendon who were badly affected by the passage of Hurricane Beryl that along with emergency assistance, the government is moving to bring sustainable help to them as they seek to recover from the weather event.

Holness made the pledge during a tour of Clarendon South East on Saturday with Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles Jnr.

The prime minister spoke to residents in Lionel Town, Portland Cottage, Mitchell Town and Rocky Point amidst intermittent rainfall and indicated that some of the assistance which the government intends to bring cannot only be short term.

Holness said it has to be borne in mind that the hurricane season is expected to be active and therefore a mere short term fix to the roofs of houses may not be advisable.

“Apart from the necessary short term intervention, we also have to also think medium term as we deliver relief. There are some things that we’re going to do, particularly as it relates to the reconstruction of roofs. It’s not going to be good enough to just tack on back some zinc onto the roofing. We’re going to have to figure out ways to ensure that those roofs, that we do, that they are properly done,” Holness said.

The prime minister noted that the Labour and Social Security Ministry which is headed by Charles Jnr will play a vital role in the Beryl recovery effort in Clarendon and across the island.

“So, between myself and your Member of Parliament, who happens to be the Minister of Social Security, we will ensure that you have real assistance towards not just the repair of your house, but to have a better structure erected,” Holness told Dornette Lofters, whose house was wrecked during Beryl and is now flooded due to subsequent rainfall.

Holness said the damage in Clarendon is severe and requires serious attention.

“In other words, the severity of the damage is far more than what I have observed in other areas, and that is because of several complicating factors. First of all, the issue of drainage. This part of Jamaica, South East Clarendon and indeed the coast of Clarendon coming around, is at or below sea level. Therefore, it makes it almost impossible to have proper drainage and it is almost an inevitability that with even mild rainfall, you will have flooding”, Holness observed.

Holness noted that scores of roofs have been destroyed, light polls felled and residents are facing a major challenge returning their daily lives to normal.

“The government will therefore be mobilising very rapidly to assist, very rapidly. We are already mobilised. We are already assisting those persons who are in shelters, and I have witnessed the mobilisation of support there,” he said, adding “The mobilisation to help those persons who are in need, but not in shelters, that has also begun. We will increase the level of support, because as I drove around, it was quite clear that the needs are great. So the instant help with tarpaulins, with water supply, care packages including food and water, is being mobilised.”

He noted that work is taking place to return potable water to communities in Clarendon within a few days.

Holness also assured residents that work is also underway to bring back electricity to communities in the parish.

He urged residents not to be fooled by unreliable sources where hollow promises are made but to depend on established information channels, including those operated by the government and reputable media entities, for updates on plans to assist them to recover from the storm.