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The Jamaican Government is preparing to transition its post–Hurricane Melissa relief program from direct food distribution to a voucher-based system by early 2026, aimed at giving affected residents greater purchasing power and flexibility.
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Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ambassador Dr. Rocky Meade, disclosed the plan during Wednesday’s (December 10) sitting of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee.
Dr. Meade explained that in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the Government relied on emergency procedures to deliver rapid assistance, with a strong focus on food distribution. As recovery progresses, however, officials believe it is time to adjust the approach.
“Now that we have done that quite a bit… we’re hoping… to have a change in how we assist the country,” Dr. Meade said. “We want to give more purchasing power to those who are in need so that, as the businesses come back up, they can actually get the things they want and not just a package that we assume that might be, [where] they may have too much of one thing and not something else.”
He said the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) is leading work on the new system, which he loosely described as a voucher model, though it may not involve traditional paper vouchers.
“It’s really putting purchasing power in the hands of citizens,” he said. “We have had some meetings on how that could work, and the details of that are also being worked out.”
According to Dr. Meade, the MLSS will also provide guidance on identifying priority needs and determining beneficiary eligibility under the new arrangement. The goal, he said, is to pivot to this method of delivering relief by the start of the new year.
He noted that officials recently presented the proposed system to Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who requested a few adjustments before final approval.
“I can assure you there has been progress, and they (the Ministry) have a product,” Dr. Meade said. “But for some tweaks, [it] will be ready [for] rollout in January. I am reasonably confident that by the New Year, we’ll be able to roll something out.”
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Holness had previously expressed concern about images of people rushing for care packages and called on both relief groups and residents to maintain self-respect throughout the recovery process. The new system, he explained, will allow individuals to choose what they need. “Giving persons coupons or cards [will enable them to] buy the stuff that they need.”
The proposed shift is intended to support both hurricane-affected households and local businesses as economic activity gradually resumes following the storm.
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