MINISTER of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr has reiterated his appeal for people who benefit under the Government’s Restoration of Owner and Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme, to use the money for to fix their houses.

“Make sure you fix your roof with the money. Don’t use it to stock up any shop, or whatever else plans you might have; it is to purchase building material to help you repair your home,” Charles Jr said during the handover of ROOFS grants in St Ann last Friday.

Under the programme, people whose houses were damaged when Hurricane Melissa hit the island last October have been awarded grants based on the severity of the damage. People who suffered minor damage have been awarded $75,000, those who suffered major damage $200,000, while people who suffered catastrophic damage are being granted $500,000.

The Government’s strategy is that recipients of the $500,000 and $200,000 grants are given QR codes on their phones which they take to selected merchants to purchase repair material.

“When you go to the stores, show them your QR code along with your ID so they can identify you, and that is how you will get access to buy the stuff that you want,” said Charles Jr.

He pointed out that recipients in the major and severe damage categogries will receive $75,000 cash back from their grant which can be redeemed only after they have made their hardware purchases.

However people in the minor category will collect the cash at allocated remittance agencies.

“I also suggest that whatever cash you get after you buy the material, you hold some to be able to pay for labour — because next thing, you buy all this material and don’t have anybody to help you put it on,” Charles Jr added.

He was supported by permanent secretary in the ministry Dionne Jennings who also urged recipients to use the grants for house repairs.

“Please use the money wisely and ensure that you repair your roofs, because we are only a couple months away from the [next] hurricane season and we want to make sure we are in a better position if a disaster should strike again,” said Jennins.

More than 1,000 residents of St Ann have been selected to benefit under the ROOFS programme, and on Friday Charles Jr pointed out that, “More than $270 million will be distributed today… and everyone will receive their money once they have been verified. Some will receive their QR codes today and some at a later date.”

Among those selected for the ROOFS grant was Deidrea Watkis of Free Hill in St Ann South Western.

Her house was severely damaged by the Category 5 storm, and Watkis was overjoyed when she learnt she would receive the much-needed $500,000 grant.

“I was crying because I remember how hard I worked to build my house, without any help, as a single mother of nine children. I feel so excited and blessed today to get this grant, and I know my children are going to feel the same. God bless the Government,” Watkis told the Jamaica Observer as she detailed how she was affected by the hurricane

“My house was badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa, I lost my roof and basically everything in my house was destroyed. The books for my children, my fowl coop, and the farm that I use to operate to send my children to school was damaged,” added Watkis.

For Erica Halloway from Beverly in Runaway Bay, St Ann, a $200,000 grant under the ROOFS programme will give her a boost to repair her house.

“I feel very good because right now we are trying to work on the roof and the material is so expensive, so I’m really grateful. We couldn’t live in it after the hurricane because the roof was completely gone and all the windows broke out so this is a great help,” said Halloway.

Also expressing gratitude was Veronica James of Claremont in the parish.

“It is very good to know that I got help. And everything is appreciated because I have to build over and it is not easy, so I’m happy,” said James.

The Government has already distributed more than half of the $10 billion allocated for the ROOFS programme.

(From left) Minister of state in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Donnovan Williams, Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern Dr Kenneth Russell, share in the moment as Veronica James, receives her symbolic cheque from Minster of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. (Photo: Akera Davis)

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Dione Jennings addressing the official ROOFS grant ceremony at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security building in St Ann’s Bay on Friday. (Photo: Akera Davis)