The Government initiated the $10-billion COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme, to assist affected individuals and businesses.
The package formed part of a $25-billion stimulus, the largest in Jamaica’s history, which was earmarked in the $853.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2020/21.
• Grants totalling more than $3.6 billion have, to date, been paid to more than 400,000 applicants.
• $1.1 billion was also earmarked to supplement the Programme of
Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).
COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force
• Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, chaired the 28-member multi-sectoral committee that was established to assist in piloting Jamaica’s recovery from the economic fallout related to COVID-19. The committee collated its findings and recommendations in a June 2020 report, titled, ‘Rebuild Jamaica’- which was tabled in Parliament.
Safety Net for the Elderly
• Approximately 30,000 seniors are benefiting from a $1-billion safety net programme, instituted for persons not on PATH, or covered under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), poor relief, or a pension plan.