MONTEGO BAY, St James — Juliet Howard could barely hide the emotion in her voice as she expressed gratitude that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme will help her rebuild her Hurricane Melissa-ravaged house.

“Right now them can jook mi in it from outside, mi nah lie to you,” Howard jokingly told the Jamaica Observer Thursday when asked about the extent of the damage to her Paradise, Norwood, property in St James.

Her house, which is in St James North Western, was among thousands damaged by last October’s Category 5 storm, leaving her and her grandson who lives with her in a precarious position. Howard is one of more than 1,000 people in St James who will receive grants under the $10-billion programme.

According to Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr, St James residents will get almost $1 billion of the total amount made available by the Government.

“That includes 1,677 persons under the major category, 293 under the minor category, and 1,128 under the severe category,” he added.

Charles said with this allotment, the ministry has disbursed half of the funds earmarked for ROOFS.

“I have been advised that we have finally… moved past the 50 per cent mark of that $10 billion. I can say to you that we have distributed, as of today, $521,917,500 to persons who need support,” he said.

Individuals with minor property damage receive $75,000, those with major damage receive $200,000 while those who suffered severe property damage will receive $500,000.

Howard’s house was severely damaged.

“It hasn’t been easy; I lost most of my things in the storm, my roof went off,” she lamented.

This is not the first time tragedy has struck, leaving her despondent.

“Eleven years ago, I lost everything same way. My house went in a fire and I lost everything. So this storm took me back right on my anniversary because it was October 2014 and now October 2025,” she shared with the Observer.

Receiving the help has lifted her spirits.

“It’s a great feeling, I’m telling you,” Howard exclaimed.

“I am coming from a little struggle but I just hold on and I give God thanks. I was grateful when I got the call this morning, I’m not lying. I am grateful, I am thankful to the ministers, to everyone that take part and do this for all of us,” she added.

Equally ecstatic was Tangle River resident Selvin Samuels who said he lost his house to the storm.

“I am feeling good because everything was gone, everything was crushed out and I didn’t live anywhere,” he explained.

“It was some zinc that I lined up, because the something them mash up. [I] spread canvas around it and was there until I pick up some board and set up back a little place,” Samuels added.

He is now looking forward to rebuilding.

“Now with this, I can build back a little place ya now. It’s been rough but you done know we have to fight the battle,” he said.

Cambridge resident Joshua Walker also expressed gratitude for the help he received to rebuild his house which is also in south St James.

“None of us never expect this and it come,” he said.

He was among hundreds of St James residents who on Thursday eagerly gathered in the auditorium of the Western Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for updates on State-provided assistance in getting back on their feet post-Hurricane Melissa.

The labour minister was greeted with applause as he announced to the gathering that QR codes with instructions will be sent to successful applicants as early as that day.

Juliet Howard (second left) collects her ROOFS cheque from Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr (right) on Thursday while minister of state in the Social Security Ministry Donovan Williams and Member of Parliament for St James West Central Marlene Malahoo-Forte look on.

Selvin Samuels (second left) collects his ROOFS cheque from minister of state in the Social Security Ministry Donovan Williams (left). Sharing in the moment are Member of Parliament for St James Southern Nickiesha Burchell and Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr.