MORE than 50 faith-based institutions in Hanover are set to benefit today under the next tranche of the Government’s Community Churches Clean-up and Restoration Initiative Grant.

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, in partnership with the Social Development Commission (SDC), will host the second of the grant ceremonies, having launched the controversial benefit programme in St Elizabeth in April.

The churches in Hanover will benefit from a share of the $75 million which the Government has allocated to help faith-based institutions restore their facilities and continue serving their communities following the devastation of last October’s Hurricane Melissa.

According to the ministry, during today’s handover approximately $8.5 million in grant funding will be presented to 56 churches in the parish to support clean-up, restoration, and rehabilitation efforts following the impact of the Category 5 storm.

In the first handover ceremony held — just over one month ago — at the Middle Quarters New Testament Church in St Elizabeth, $17.65 million in grants was shared by 101 faith-based institutions.

Addressing that function, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie defended the Government’s decision to provide grants to more than 400 churches in the five parishes — St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St Ann and St James — most affected by the destructive storm.

“When I made the announcement some time ago that the Government would move to assist churches which were affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa not a lot of people paid attention to it, but when the Most Honourable Prime Minister [Dr Andrew Holness] confirmed that the Government would be providing assistance to churches… that need some help, there was a conversation that started [about] whether or not Government should reach out to the churches.

“For those who question the Government’s commitment to the churches they need to answer this question, ‘Is there a conversation when you want to get married and you decide to choose a church? Is there a conversation when you die which church preside over the last rites?’,” said McKenzie.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie (left) greets Pastor Everton Smith of Ockbrook Moravian Church during the ceremony to hand over grants to churches in St Elizabeth in April.

“Let me make this point and make it abundantly clear: The commitment of the Government of Dr Andrew Holness is to serve all the people of Jamaica when the need arise and the church found themselves in that position,” he added to loud applause.

He declared that the Government would not make apologies for providing assistance to churches impacted by Melissa.

According to McKenzie, during a tour of western Jamaica in the immediate aftermath of Melissa he started counting the churches damaged by the wind, rain and flood water associated with the hurricane and had to stop counting because there were so many.

“Aside from some of these churches being damaged you had churches which were totally destroyed, that will have to be rebuilt out of the dust and ashes. What makes me proud as a Jamaican is that despite the challenges, the difficulties that the churches experienced… they have not closed their doors in saving souls,” argued the minister.

“The church must be commended because they are experiencing what may other Jamaicans are experiencing. A church is not just a place of worship; [it] caters to the needs of many Jamaicans,” added McKenzie as he declared that the church represents “what Jamaica is all about”.

He told the ceremony that, based on a survey that was done by the SDC, more than 1,600 churches across the island sustained major damage during the hurricane. But McKenzie noted that churches will still make their buildings available to be used as shelters during this Atlantic hurricane season, which started on June 1.

“As a country we must start to respect and recognise the work of our churches, and for those who were critical, and are still critical, the Andrew Holness Government is not buying votes using the church,” said McKenzie as he underscored that the Administration’s commitment to the church will not be shaken.