JAMAICA – THE Government is expected to spend between half a billion and $1 billion to repair the road infrastructure damaged by the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael which caused significant flooding, blockages, and landslides on sections of thoroughfares across the island on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who made the disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, said this was a preliminary cost as the Administrati he said the funding for the repairs is likely to come from the $5-billion contingency fund, which the Government has put in place to respond to disasters as they occur. The weather system, which passed near the western coast of the island Tuesday afternoon, impacted more than 30 roads, according to the National Works Agency (NWA).on was not yet in a position to give definitive figures as the damage assessment is ongoing.

Providing a preliminary report on the impact of the storm, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic, Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for works Robert Morgan said that generally while there was damage “it wasn’t as significant as what we have seen before with the likes of [Hurricane] Beryl.” “So we must be thankful. We didn’t lose any roads really, but we had some significant landslides particularly in West Rural St Andrew, we had some landslides in northern and several other communities,” he said, noting that the NWA was in the field completing its assessment of the damage. Morgan said that in the general appraisal of the damage, 15 roads were totally blocked and 10 flooded. (jamaicaobserver)…[+]

Photo: A house surrounded by rising water on the Bay Road in Westmoreland. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)