Our churches are an essential part of our communities and indeed our nation and they too have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa. The government has made an offer to support our churches in the clean-up efforts, but I’ve seen reports that do not accurately capture this support and I want to clarify what has been offered. The Government is carrying out a national cleanup exercise, with special focus on the five parishes most affected. As part of this effort, $75 million has been set aside to help churches clean up their properties, specifically to remove debris and clear damaged areas so they can begin rebuilding. This funding is not for reconstruction. It is to assist churches that have suffered damage, such as collapsed roofs and walls, and need support to clear debris before repairs can start. Churches can access this support after an assessment by the relevant State agency by contacting their local office. As in past disasters, the Government is also working with church groups to put arrangements in place for affordable financing to assist with reconstruction.(Andrew Holness)