KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson says the government has the resources to assist Jamaicans, but argues the money is not reaching those who need it most.

Robinson, who was speaking at the Member of Parliament for St Andrew South West Dr Angela Brown Burke’s annual constituency conference on Sunday, cited a recent United Nations survey which found that approximately 55 per cent of Jamaicans are food insecure.

“There was another report that came out this week. It said 55 per cent of Jamaicans are food insecure. What it means is that more than half of Jamaicans cannot eat a nutritious meal every day. It’s not my study. It’s a study done by the United Nations. Now, how can we be comfortable in a country where a report says 55 per cent of Jamaicans are food insecure? And what is the government doing about that? Nothing”.

“We have people who are in need, and the government has the money,” Robinson stressed.

“The government has the money to help the people, and for whatever reason, the money is not reaching
those in need.”

According to Robinson, the Jamaican economy has seen three quarters of negative growth, and he noted that part of the reason for this is the lack of support for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island last October.

“So we have seen in the economy three quarters of negative growth and they project a fourth quarter,” he said. “And part of the reason for the negative growth is that the people who have been most affected by the hurricane don’t get any help. And if they don’t get any help, they can’t rebuild.

“If their business mash up, then how are they going to restart and get the economy going? But there are resources that were mobilised internationally to provide that assistance. It has not been done.”
Robinson also bemoaned the pace of repairs to schools impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“Only 45 out of 308 schools that are the worst affected are going to be reopened,” he said. “I saw another report where the prime minister said he was not happy with the pace of the Hurricane Melissa repairs.

“So I read the report, and I was looking for more because him a the prime minister. He was the minister of economic growth. He was the minister of about 10 things. So what the prime minister needs to say is what is he going to do to ensure that relief gets to the people who are most affected.”