‘Don’t tear down your country’ Holness tells Beenie Man and other Hurricane Melissa critics

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has hit back at criticism made by veteran dancehall entertainer Beenie Man and others against the Government’s Hurricane Melissa recovery effort, charging that these persons should focus on uplifting the country as Jamaica continues to rebuild.

The entertainer, in an interview with a UK media outlet while on a visit, reportedly questioned the Government’s handling of the recovery and the level of spending on hurricane victims.

Holness, however, has defended Jamaica’s recovery, noting that the Government has spent billions on rebuilding the country and providing relief.

He was speaking today at a ceremony to reopen the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth, which was badly damaged by the storm.

He noted that more than $300 million was spent to repair the health facility.

He cited the reopening as one of many projects undertaken by the Government to rebuild after Melissa.

The Prime Minister argued that the entertainer and other critics have failed to acknowledge the extensive work of the Government to rebuild after a Category Five Hurricane, which struck Jamaica a year ago today.

“As I perused the list of invitees … I thought to myself the Minister [of Health] neglected to invite Beenie Man because then he would see for himself firsthand how the Government has been spending on the recovery. And it is not just this hospital, you’re spending on almost 10 health centre[s] in this parish alone,” said Holness.

He said persons have a responsibility to speak facts and give a true picture of the work done and in progress to recover from the hurricane.

He said the country benefited from the Government’s disaster plan, which included financial resources that allowed it to respond effectively to Melissa.

Holness said Jamaicans should seek to tell the story of Jamaica’s resilience and recovery effort.

“So when you go overseas and decry the Government of Jamaica, entities with far greater credibility and knowledge have praised Jamaica's preparedness and its disaster risk management strategy as one of the best in the region. Don’t tear down your country,” he said.

Holness acknowledged that there have been shortcomings with the recovery, but maintained that Jamaica responded well and that the Government has done a lot to put the country on a stronger path.

“The response has not been perfect. But in a disaster, you can't compare the government response to perfection. You have to compare it to its peers. In countries our size with our resources, the recovery has not gone as quickly or as well. The restoration of electricity, for example, in a country like Puerto Rico, took almost twice as long as it took in Jamaica. Why you don't go overseas and tell them that? So our response, as we reflect on the anniversary of this disaster, which I describe as super phenomenal, meaning that the hurricane was so devastating, it was the third most powerful hurricane recorded, third most powerful hurricane recorded, the most powerful hurricane to have hit Jamaica, accounting for 54% of our 2024 GDP. Why you don't tell the world that?” he added.

The Prime Minister said persons must seek to come together to support the recovery rather than make criticisms.

“Don't tell me you love Jamaica, and the first thing you want to do is to tear down Jamaica. As we reflect on the anniversary, yes, we must say loudly the things that have not gone correctly. But equally, we must say loudly the things that have gone well.”

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