Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
A FIVE-MEMBER delegation of United States congressmen and women said on Monday that they were satisfied with the way in which the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) had been utilising more than $1.6 billion in funding the U.S. Congress donated to Jamaica to assist with post Hurricane Ivan recovery efforts last year.
The team of three men and two women, who were on a tour of select hurricane damaged sites in St. Elizabeth such as the Red Bank All-Age School and the Hounslow farming area, examined the progress of several beneficiaries of the fund and said they were happy to have been able to assist Jamaicans in a time of need.
"I am very happy to have been here for the Hurricane Ivan victims," said Michigan congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick. "There was very good use of the money, so I am proud (of what I have seen)."
FARMERS NOT IMPRESSED
Several farmers who turned up during the tour of the Hounslow farming area, however, said they were not impressed by the way these funds were being distributed. In fact, of about 15 farmers who spoke with The Gleaner during the tour, only two were able to confirm that they had received any help under any of the programmes doling out assistance funds under the ONR.
"All now I don't get any help, not even a bag of fertiliser," said Shernett Blackwood, a Hounslow farmer for more than 20 years.
"From Hurricane Ivan I had some chickens that were destroyed and I lost a whole lot of crops. I have been doing the recovery work all by myself," said businessman and farmer, Donovan Williamson of Big Woods. "If the money is not able to reach us, I do encourage the USAID to expand the project."
Carol Ebanks, one of the two lucky farmers who got some assistance, said she lost all her crops and representatives from the ONR assisted her in plowing and replanting her crop of sweet potato. "And it has been doing well," she said.
During the tour which ended at Jakes Resort in Treasure Beach, several fishermen in the area were presented with a portion of fishing wire that had been acquired in a general fisherfolk assistance package at a cost of US$100,000 ($6.1 million).
After the passage of Hurricane Ivan last September, the U.S. Government quickly responded with support and funds totalling $1.6 billion to reduce immediate risks and to help various organisations better prepare for future natural hazards. The funds were part of a larger $6.2 billion hurricane recovery package appropriated by the U.S. Congress for use in the Caribbean.
