Contributed By Simone Dawson. For Karibbean Vibez Radio Network.
I’m struggling to find the words to express the sheer disbelief and anger I feel right now. In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, while our nation is literally begging for help, the Dr. Andrew Holness Administration has announced plans for a $150 Million USD loan to JPS.
Frankly, this is beyond bold—it’s an outright insult to every Jamaican still trying to find shelter and stability. Has the government truly forgotten the catastrophic reality on the ground?
The Unspoken Truth on the Ground
While policy decisions are made in comfortable offices, our people are enduring unimaginable hardship.
The crisis isn’t over; it is ongoing and deadly:
Homes Are Gone: Mothers and their newborn babies are sleeping outside because there are no functional shelters.
The Forgotten Elderly: Our most vulnerable citizens remain displaced, with no clear path or resources to return home or find new accommodation.
Disease Outbreaks: Deadly secondary issues, like the leptospirosis outbreak, are claiming lives because basic sanitation and medical access have been compromised.
Water is a Luxury: Many communities still do not have access to safe, clean drinking water, compounding the health crisis.
This proposed $150 million US corporate loan screams a crystal-clear message: the Administration is prioritizing ensuring the lights stay on for large industrial users, like hotels and resorts, over the basic survival, safety, and human dignity of the Jamaican people.
The Simple, Moral Fix
There is only one morally justifiable course of action here, and it is painfully simple:
STOP THE LOAN IMMEDIATELY.
Take that $150 MILLION USD and redirect every single dollar to the recovery efforts that directly impact human lives:
Rebuild and Repair: Fund emergency roof repairs and community infrastructure to provide safe homes again.
Establish True Shelters: Build modern, resilient shelters capable of protecting our citizens from the next storm.
Clean Water & Health: Invest in mobile water purification units and critical medical supplies to contain outbreaks.
Give our people HOPE, not just another corporate debt burden. Jamaica deserves better priorities, and our government must be held accountable for its choices during a national emergency.
Let your voice be heard in the comments! 
Let your voice be heard in the comments! By. Simone Dawsone.
#Jamaica #HurricaneRecovery #PrioritizeThePeople #JPSLoan #AndrewHolness #HelpJamaicans
Great observations but there seems to be much more to the story