10 COUNCILLORS AND state agencies at last Thursday’s meeting of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation (StEMC) painted a dismal picture of an estimated multibilliondollar damage caused by Hurricane Beryl last week. Black River Mayor Richard Solomon said while the financial toll is still being tabulated, no sector of the Breadbasket Parish’s economic base was spared. “We are still crunching the figures, but I can tell you the agricultural sector was a total devastation,” said Solomon, who also lost a section of his roof to Beryl. “The business sector, the tourist sector – devastation. When I went and we looked and did the assessment on the southern section, where we have the tourist industry, an area like Jack Sprat, totally demolished.” Solomon said the parish, which was worst affected by Beryl, will need a lot of help to recover. “As it is, it is a bit early to put a dollar figure on the damage, but it is going to run into billions, based on my own assessment and the preliminary assessments of the various agencies,” he added. Education sector sustains heavy damage from Beryl PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES indicate that Jamaica’s education sector has suffered close to $800 million in damage due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl. Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, said the Government is committed to addressing these challenges swiftly and ensuring that educational facilities are safe and functional. “We are mobilising all the necessary resources to mitigate further damage and safeguard our staff and students,” she said. The ministry advised that technical officers conducted post-disaster assessments, which found that 100 schools in six of the seven regions sustained damage amounting to $797 million. “The majority of this cost reflects schools in St Ann and Trelawny. Other schools in other parishes have been negatively impacted, but due to the communications disruptions and impassable road conditions, the information has not been submitted or verified,” the ministry said in a media release. The ministry pointed out that the preliminary submission does not account for schools in Region Two, which covers the parishes of St Mary, Portland and St Thomas, because of disruptions in the amenities. Thirty-five schools in Region Four have been affected, with damage estimated at $246.6 million, while 34 institutions in Region Three sustained damage estimated at $240.8 million. Approximately $224 million will be required to effect repairs to 17 schools in Region Five and another $55.7 million for eight in Region Seven. The ministry estimated damage amounting to $30.1 million for one school in Region Six, and $600,000 for five in Region One. Teens charged with lottery scamming TWO BOYS, both 17 years old, have been charged with obtaining property by false pretence and conspiring to commit an offence under the Law Reform (Special Provisions) Fradulent Transaction Act. Reports are that on July 8, the teenagers’ cell phones were searched with their permission by police about 10 a.m. Police discovered various items, including transcripts of them conspiring to make financial gain by creating a fake investment page on Facebook, inviting people to invest. An interview was done in the presence of their guardians and attorneys, and charges were later proffered. JRC planning rail service expansion THE JAMAICA Railway Corporation (JRC) is looking to commence work towards launching phase one of the tourist train service between Montpelier, St James, and Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth. Billions to rebuild St Bess Munro College sustained significant damage during the passage of Hurricane Beryl. CONTRIBUTED Several damaged utility poles in Martha Brae, Trelawny were the initial effects of Hurricane Beryl on Thursday, July 4. PHOTOS BY ASHLEY ANGUIN [NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED] THE MONTHLY GLEANER | JULY 18 - AUGUST 17, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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