THE Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) hurricane relief fund is now a shade below $2 billion dollars some six weeks after the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa slammed into the island devastating a large swath of the country’s south-western sections.

”This demonstrates the commitment of the business community Jamaica’s recovery,” declared PSOJ President Metry Seaga as he accepted the latest donation to the fund on Wednesday.

That donation was $5 million cheque from the Victoria Mutual (VM) Group at the PSOJ headquarters in St Andrew.

“We thank VM for its leadership and impactful support,”added Seaga as the donation from VM added momentum to the joint relief initiative led by the PSOJ, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), which have been coordinating private-sector resources in the aftermath of Melissa.

The contribution forms part of VM Group’s overall post-hurricane Melissa response, which now totals tens of millions of dollars in support to team members, VM members and communities.

Within hours of the storm’s passage, the VM Group activated a comprehensive staff-support package that included reconstruction grants, loan moratoria, and mental-health services for affected team members, as well as extensive community level relief through the VM Foundation.

Group president and CEO of VM Group Courtney Campbell underscored the organisation’s dedication to the island’s well-being, resilience and long-term recovery, and declared that it would continue to extend a helping hand in times of hardship.

“VM Group moved swiftly to support our team, our members and the communities we serve. We believe it’s all hands on deck as we work together to get Jamaica over this hurdle, and we remain fully committed to helping our country rebuild stronger… The unified efforts of the PSOJ, JMEA and JCC show the real power of partnership.

“We commend the task force for its rapid mobilisation and its focused support to the communities most in need,” said Campbell.

He pointed out that through the VM Foundation, the organisation has been on the ground in several of the hardest-hit communities, distributing hundreds of care packages and offering additional relief support.

VM Building Society also made up to six-month loan moratoria available to members and continues to work closely with communities to help with recovery at the household level.