Jamaica National Building Society implements multi faceted approach to Hurricane Dean relief
KINGSTON, Jamaica – In wake of the passage of Hurricane Dean on August 19, the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) and its subsidiaries have implemented a three-pronged response and relief plan to meet the needs of its members and to assist in national recovery efforts.
According to Mr. Earl Jarrett, JNBS General Manager, this plan was designed to facilitate advocacy, aid and restoration following the passage of the hurricane, and to help to develop an overall habit of preparedness given Jamaica’s vulnerability to inclement weather conditions.
“Prior to the hurricane season, the Society, in association with several agencies, conducted a series of Hurricane Preparedness forums across the island. We hope that the information shared at the seven events were beneficial to the attendees,” he stated.
“We are now helping our mortgagors to restore their homes by offering several loans with rates as low as 11% and up to ten years to repay with the launch of the JN Recovery Programme. It features three options: Home Equity Loans, Share Loans, and Deferred Payments and is also available to non-members and clients of JN subsidiaries,” he declared.
Speaking to other response efforts currently underway, Mr. Jarrett said, “We have launched the JN Recovery Fund, which facilitates donations to charities involved in the national recovery effort. Donors can send money to the Fund at no cost from any JN Money Transfer Agent in the United States, the United Kingdom, St. Vincent and Cayman.”
The JNBS General Manager added “the donations will be pooled and used to aid organizations and persons who were adversely affected by the Hurricane.”
The Account number is 10272794.
He went on to say that JN Money Services (JNMS) is providing support for the initiative by waiving remittance fees charged to persons who wish to donate to the Fund. The waiver is in effect until September 30, 2007.
“In wake of the hurricane, JNMS also provided a one-week waiver in remittance fees for all money transfers. This enabled hundreds of person overseas to send money to family and friends in Jamaica at no cost to them, helping them to undertake activities to fill their needs short-term needs,” he pointed out.
Rhoda Lee, Operations Manager of JN Money Transfer in the United Kingdom estimated that with the waiver, JNMS is foregoing some £100,000 in fees in the United Kingdom alone.
Mr. Jarrett also advised that the Society was facilitating critical discourse with government agencies involved in disaster preparation and mitigation efforts.
“With the implementation of a series of community forums focusing on post-hurricane Dean issues, we are facilitating discourse with several state response agencies and civil society groupings in communities that have been most affected. These public forums will give community members the opportunity to dialogue, and rather than take a blame posture…seek right solutions in concert with local authorities,” Mr. Jarrett continued.
He disclosed that the first of the Hurricane Dean Community forums was held in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, on August 24, the second is being planned for Portland Cottage, Clarendon on Monday August 27, and two others are to follow in Manchester and St. Elizabeth.
“Our overall disaster response program will support not only our Members, but civil society, the government, thousands of Jamaican families and members of the Diaspora in this post hurricane period. That is the JN way,” Mr. Jarrett underscored, “We are not only concerned with the financial status of our members, we want to ensure their overall well-being.”
