NHT waives $585 million in peril insurance premiums for Hurricane Melissa-affected mortgagors

The National Housing Trust (NHT) has waived the peril insurance premiums for mortgagors in the parishes worst affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The $585-million waiver was applied to payments that would have been due under a Special Hurricane Melissa Moratorium implemented by the Trust from November 2025 to April 2026.

This is in addition to the approximately $1.12 billion in interest charges the NHT had already absorbed as part of the Hurricane Melissa mortgage moratorium programme.

Manager for the Loan Portfolio Management Unit within the NHT, Leighton Taylor, said the moratorium was automatic for all customers residing in the parishes most affected by Hurricane Melissa.

“[These mortgagors were] mostly across the western belt. The number of account holders that were impacted is roughly 36,000. The moratorium was intended to provide additional support. In terms of the waiver of the peril insurance for that six-month period, customers will see it reflect on their account as a credit,” he explained.

Taylor was speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank conducted at the agency’s Television Department, located at 5-9 South Odeon Avenue in St Andrew.

Ordinarily, these unpaid premiums would have been recovered from the mortgagors over a specified period.

However, as part of its continued post-Melissa recovery support, the NHT has absorbed the eligible cost.

For more information, persons can call 876-929-6500, visit nht.gov.jm or visit the nearest NHT branch.

- JIS

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