Patterson
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson is seeking to allay fears that the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) may be derailed by a scarcity of funds to assist in the nation's hurricane recovery effort.
"At the present time, there is no need for alarm, upset, or disquiet that we have not received higher levels of cash funding into the coffers of the ONR," Mr. Patterson said during Monday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
"But we are stepping up our efforts to bring in as much as is possible and that is going to be complemented by what has to be done on the fiscal side as well as contributions from international agencies."
Last Thursday, Danville Walker, chief executive officer of the ONR, told journalists that the ONR had received $900 million in commitments but only a small amount in actual cash. At the same time, as a result of the dwindling level of commitments in the weeks following the hurricane, he suggested that much needed to be done if the ONR was to "play an effective role in rebuilding Jamaica".
But on Monday Mr. Patterson said he had instructed that a group from the ONR team must go out to ensure that those who have made commitments send in their cheques. "We know the people who have made the pledges. We don't believe any of them will renege or default, but we need to get the cash in the coffers as quickly as possible," Mr. Patterson said.
The Prime Minister said that he had also asked that the ONR set up a special team to solicit from those companies which have not yet made pledges.
Mr. Patterson also noted that, apart from the ONR-controlled funds, the nation will benefit from contributions from international governments or aid agencies. "Those funds coming through either the PIOJ (Planning Institute of Jamaica) or the MOF (Ministry of Finance) are allocated by the Government in accordance with the assessment of the needs and the priorities, not only at the Ministry level, but also at a national level. That funding is not within the purview of the ONR," the Prime Minister said.
