Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security is partnering with the Government of the United Kingdom, through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide critical cash grant assistance to Jamaicans most affected by Hurricane Beryl.
This collaboration was formalized with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Ministry in downtown Kingston.
The partnership will see the U.K. Government committing £160,000 (US$200,000) towards cash transfer interventions in Jamaica.
This initiative supports the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to provide immediate financial aid to approximately 2,000 individuals whose lives were severely affected by the hurricane.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Portfolio Minister Pearnel Charles Jr., said, “Outside of the infrastructure, comes the basic need for just cash for medicine, to buy food, etc.”
He offered words of encouragement as Jamaica works to rebuild.
“We don’t want to just build back; it’s about building back better. It’s about putting those who are most vulnerable into situations that recognize their value,” he stated.
Cash grants will be distributed to affected households, prioritizing those where homes were destroyed or significantly damaged, with special attention being given to those with children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
In her remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Colette Roberts Risden said: “This gathering reflects the longstanding cooperation and efforts among the Government of Jamaica, the Government of the United Kingdom and the World Food Programme.
Risden offered hope for the future.
“As we move forward together, we will continue to provide to those affected by the disaster and enable them to recover and emerge from this challenge stronger,” she added.