OPM State Minister To Manage National Recovery Effort

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Luther Buchanan, is to coordinate the Government’s hurricane recovery and relief programme.

This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, during a statement on Tuesday (Nov. 6) to the House of Representatives.

Mrs. Simpson Miller explained that Mr. Buchanan will work along with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to ensure speedy and impartial implementation of the Government’s efforts.

He will also ensure effective coordination and prioritisation of the recovery and reconstruction activities within the Ministries, Departments and Agencies for a period not exceeding six months.

“The Government will communicate with the public to provide updates on the status of recovery programmes through the six-month period,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

In the meantime, the Government has already received commitments of support from the French Government for the health and education sectors; and the Government of Germany for the education sector.

The Government of Japan has also pledged assistance to the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) in Portland; and the Annotto Bay Hospital in St. Mary.

Financial support is also coming from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) through the Brazil/CARICOM Initiative, and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for support to the health sector.

ODPEM is also coordinating the efforts of several non-governmental organisations that are garnering funding to assist the national reconstruction efforts.