Holness Under Pressure As He Defends Hurricane Relief Fund Management

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00][music] [music] The prime minister of Jamaica has come out and he says Jamaica he's being strategic.

[00:00:30]in the use of Hurricane Melissa relief funds.

[00:00:35]Listen to what he said tonight Jamaica for me to give him a response tonight.

[00:00:39]>> The government is being strategic that defense from Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holes this evening amidst public backlash over news that his administration is yet to spend over $1 billion in hurricane relief funds. The prime minister also announced that the money will be used to buy pre-fabricated containers for those left homeless by the storm. He was speaking today at a national labor day project in St. Elizabeth. Jamila Maitelland reports.

[00:01:09]>> The auditor general come out and said, "Well, the money is there, but they didn't spend it fast enough."

[00:01:19]>> You see the context now?

[00:01:22]How come they stole it? The money is there.

[00:01:24]>> Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holes at the Louiswis Town Early Childhood Institution in St. Elizabeth, one of the National Labor Day projects, but he also labored on another issue, the $1.4 billion in relief funds donated for victims of Hurricane Melissa. Dr. Holes says the funds will be used to help those left homeless by the hurricane.

[00:01:47]>> The government of China has given us some.

[00:01:50]The Ministry of Housing has purchased some and I believe it's the Red Cross that is giving us some as well. So, we may get up to about 3,000 units, these modular units.

[00:02:03]And we are building uh a small community in West Mullen to facilitate those persons who were being housed at the Petersfield shelter.

[00:02:16]2,500 pre-fabricated container homes will be purchased. He says 900 of them are already in Jamaica and many beneficiaries have already been selected. In defending his government's management of relief efforts, Dr. Holes outlined the strategy. So the funding that is donated will be used to support the establishment of the bases because the people who are going to get them can they build the base themselves?

[00:02:45]>> No.

[00:02:48]>> So isn't that the best use of the money >> that it is there will last them 10 15 years other than to just go spend it out and then you don't know where where it went or what benefit it gate.

[00:03:02]Think Jamaica, think.

[00:03:04]>> But according to the Auditor General's report, there was no expenditure drafted or otherwise provided for what the government planned to do with the money.

[00:03:13]At least none that was provided to the auditing team at the time in February 2026. Dr. Holes now says the audit was done before a decision was made. So when this audit came out, they had already taken that decision. But the performance audit, the real time audit didn't take the policy directive that was given into account. It just made a statement which you all took.

[00:03:39]Government wasn't being inefficient. The government was being very strategic and very efficient.

[00:03:44]>> The prime minister was unable to say when the new homes will be ready, adding that it will take some time. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins in a few days on June 1. Jamila Midland, TVJ News.

[00:04:00]>> Jamaica.

[00:04:02]>> Wicked man.

[00:04:03]>> Tell me if that isn't a sly fox.

[00:04:07]>> Strategic.

[00:04:08]>> Jamaica. The man say he's being strategic.

[00:04:12]>> The money will be there for 10, 15 years.

[00:04:37]>> [laughter] [screaming] >> No sir or land [laughter] Boy, students, don't get distracted. Let me respond to the prime minister.

[00:05:03]Ishmail, play back. I just want Jamaicans to hear again. I want it to resonate. The man say him strategic.

[00:05:09]Play back for me tonight. Now, please.

[00:05:11]>> The government is being strategic. That defense from Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holes this evening amidst public backlash over news that his administration is yet to spend over $1 billion in hurricane relief funds. The prime minister also announced that the money will be used to buy pre-fabricated containers for those left homeless by the storm. He was speaking today at a national labor day project in St. Elizabeth. Jamila Maitelland reports.

[00:05:41]The auditor general come out and said, "Well, the money is there, but they didn't spend it fast enough."

[00:05:51]You see the context now was stolen. The money is there.

[00:05:56]>> Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holes at the Louiswis Town Early Childhood Institution in St. Elizabeth, one of the National Labor Day projects. But he also labored on another issue, the $1.4 billion in relief funds. donated for victims of Hurricane Melissa. Dr. Holes says the funds will be used to help those left homeless by the hurricane.

[00:06:19]>> The government of China has given us some. The Ministry of Housing has purchased some and I believe it's the Red Cross that is giving us some as well. So, we may get up to about 3,000 units, these modular units.

[00:06:35]And we are building uh a small community in West Milan to facilitate those persons who were being housed at the Petersfield shelter.

[00:06:48]>> 2,500 pre-fabricated container homes will be purchased. He says 900 of them are already in Jamaica and many beneficiaries have already been selected. In defending his government's management of relief efforts, Dr. wholeness outlined the strategy.

[00:07:06]>> So the funding that is donated will be used to support the establishment of the bases because the people are going to get them. Can they build the base themselves?

[00:07:17]>> No.

[00:07:20]>> So isn't that the best use of the money >> that it is there will last them for 10 15 years other than to just go spend it out and then you don't know where where it went or what benefit it gave.

[00:07:34]Think Jamaica think.

[00:07:36]>> But according to the auditor general's report, there was no expenditure drafted or otherwise provided for what the government planned to do with the money.

[00:07:45]At least none that was provided to the auditing team at the time in February 2026. Dr. Holes now says the audit was done before a decision was made. So when this audit came out, they had already taken that decision. But the performance audit, the real time audit didn't take the policy directive that was given into account. It just made a statement which you all took.

[00:08:11]Government was being inefficient. The government was being very strategic and very efficient.

[00:08:16]>> The prime minister was unable to say when the new homes will be ready, adding that it will take some time. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins in a few days on June 1. Jamila Migland, TVJ News.

[00:08:34]>> I want to play a song tonight for them.

[00:08:39]Hey [music] big boy never come see and come see you [music] and your cronies [singing] you know pressure time now treat the poor people right the country around the country around the country AROUND Jamaica >> [music] >> and cruel.

[00:09:13]>> I want to say to Andrew Jamaicans are in western Jamaica suffering.

[00:09:19]>> Real suffering too.

[00:09:20]>> Suffering without a roof, suffering without food, suffering without school, suffering without hospital, suffering without basic water, suffering without basic roads and the rudiments. SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO TRY to be the sly of fox or you're going to call it a spin doctor.

[00:09:36]>> MHM.

[00:09:37]>> NO LEVEL OF SPINNING YOU ARE GOING TO SPIN WILL COME TO THE reality that is in 10 15 years you want to use money to FIX YOU KNOW I DON'T HEAR JAMAICANS SAY WHAT I'M SAYING NOW IN 10 TO 15 YEARS THE MONEY WILL BE IN 10 TO 15 years you will not be the government.

[00:09:56]Next, >> what can go?

[00:09:59][screaming] >> ALL YOU SEE AROUND US IS SUFFERING ON THE LAND.

[00:10:07]ALL YOU SEE AROUND US IS PEOPLE CRYING AND YOU'RE THAT TONE DEAF TO COME AND TAKE THAT DAM APPROACH TALKING ABOUT YOU'RE BEING STRATEGIC. STRATEGIC IS YOU IDENTIFYING NOT 2,500 HOUSE. STRATEGIC IS YOU IDENTIFYING 20,000 HOMES, PUTTING A TIMELINE TO IT, PUTTING DOWN THE BASES, NOT EVEN ONE BASE FOR THE HOUSE.

[00:10:38]>> STRATEGIC IS YOU IDENTIFYING SCHOOLS AND PUTTING BACK SCHOOLS INTO OPERATION.

[00:10:45]SCHOOL.

[00:10:49]>> Strategic is you LOOKING OUT FOR THE WELLBE OF THE WORKERS.

[00:10:55]>> Strategic is YOU THINK THAT THE CHILDREN ARE EATING A GOOD MEAL.

[00:11:01]STRATEGIC YOUR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS WHO ARE IN WESTERN JAMAICA SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST A HOME. POLICEMAN N SLEEP IN A police station. NURSE N SLEEP IN A NURSE'S QUARTERS. HEY BOY, A BUSINESS BIG NOSE BOY PINOCCHIO BECAUSE MORE LIE YOU TALK ABOUT STRATEGIC YOU INSULT THE JAMAICAN PEOPLE OR THEY MUST BE STRATEGIC AND TALK ABOUT 10 15 FLIPPING YEARS they spend money big nose why YOU HAVE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT STRATEGY AND TAKE 15 YEARS TO DEVELOP STRATEGY YOU HAVE [screaming] SHORT MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY. ME A BIG NOSE BOY. WHAT IS WHAT IS SHORT-TERM STRATEGY TO TAKE THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE GUTTER? A BIG NOSE BOY. A LYING LYING ABOMINATION.

[00:11:56]HEY, COME HERE. COME HERE. COME. HEY, BIG NOSE BOY.

[00:12:03]>> We need divine intervention.

[00:12:06]WE'RE TIRED OF THE LABOR RIGHTS BOY. HOW YOU THINK YOU CAN COME DISRESPECT >> A BIG NOSE BOY? THE MORE THE MORE YOU LIAR, [screaming] THE MORE YOUR EXPOSURE ALL WICKED PANDEL [screaming] BOY [screaming] OUT.

[00:12:31]WE NEED HELP JESUS. JAMAICA NEED HELP.

[00:12:37][screaming] MY [screaming] OUT WE NEED HELP. JESUS. JAMAICA NEED HELP SHIFT THE PARLIAMENT.

[00:12:54]NO [laughter] STRATEGY TIME TONIGHT JAMAICA LOGISTICS PLANNING >> BIG NEWS BOY CALIFORNIA SWEET PEPPER news >> I want TO ASK JAMAICA >> WHAT IS STRATEGIC ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE.

[00:13:23]THE MAN HAS basically told you it's in the next 10 to 15 years or more or half or quarter get a house.

[00:13:32]>> THE MAN HAS LITERALLY TOLD YOU IT NOT FIX NO TIME SOON.

[00:13:36]>> Fix local.

[00:13:42]>> THE MAN HAS LITERALLY TOLD YOU IT NOT FIXING.

[00:13:48]THE AUDITOR GENERAL SAID THE MONEY THERE BUT IT JUST NOT SPENT. ARE we being strategic? You know what strategy looks like? You know what being STRATEGIC LOOKS LIKE? YOU IDENTIFYING THE PEOPLE.

[00:13:59]Then you deploy what working AND WORKABLE SOLUTIONS TO GET THE PEOPLE AT a satisfied PLACE. YOU NOT EVEN THE people at the shelter can have SOMEWHERE TO GO. WHAT IS STRATEGIC FOR ALL THE people in the shelter them can't even have somewhere to go live properly and schools are being disoriented. IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC? IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC? ANDREW MICHAEL WHOLENESS. YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN A SHELTER WHERE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO LIVE AND SCHOOLS ARE THERE FOR SABOTAGE. IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC?

[00:14:29]>> What can go?

[00:14:34]IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC? PEOPLE MUST GO FOR ROOF PROGRAM WHEN GO THERE'S NO MORE MONEY. IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC? IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC?

[00:14:46]IS THAT BEING STRATEGIC? WHEN PEOPLE GO HOSPITAL AND DEPOSY WALK OVER THEM BIG BOY WHO STRATEGIC FIVE YEAR come >> you know what you're strategic about you're going to slowly eat the money >> YES >> YOU GOING SLOWLY THE MONEY SO EVERY TIME YOU LOOK YOU TAKE A $5 YOU TAKE A $2 THE MONEY JAMAICA LIKE WHEN YOU COOK RICE AND SKIM THE RICE MAKE THE RICE COME TO PERFECTION SKI in footwives and the concubine WILL GO BEHIND IT.

[00:15:21]FIVE TELL THEM THAT YOU STRATEGIC MOUTH.

[00:15:25]YOU'RE STRATEGIC WITH SPENDING THE MONEY SO YOU CAN'T USE IT IF WE TRY WIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT NEED TO FORGET BUT IT NOT WORK [screaming] AND IT CAN'T WORK OUT WE NEED HELP JESUS JAMAICA NEED HELP SHIFT THE PARLIAMENT SHIFT THE ELECTION five day >> YES FIVE DAY COME HERE again make you like A GUN COME FIVE Wicked man.

[00:16:01]>> Bur money there. So you strategic for hold back the 138 million. I wonder which one 28th country you go push that in the where is strategic BUT OH YOU GO STRATEGIC for the roof program. So you tell the people the money and when you look the money all going there.

[00:16:25]>> Yeah. This strategic ABOUT THE SPARKS THAT MUCH BILLIONS of dollar use and much road STILL NEVER DO YET. SO EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. YES, I know you Andrew. You're strategic to empower your pockets. You're strategic to empower your friends. YOU'RE STRATEGIC TO EMPOWER YOURSELF. I have strategic TO EMPOWER YOUR WIFE and your concubines.

[00:16:51]>> SO YOU'RE STRATEGIC FOR YOUR GAINS, ANDREW HOLDNESS, not the gains of the thousands of ordinary Jamaicans who are suffering.

[00:16:59]You know Ramsey said get some egg and stone you with the egg when supermarket just dash the egg say big nose boy Pinocchio indeed Pinocchio indeed Jamaica he's a damn Pinocchio you Mar WhatsApp channel Courtney >> one more letter sent again Maron I don't know where you I don't know where I don't know all but say this too want judicial review Jamaica listen to this now him want judicial review judicial review but I going to say to you Marland any day want to test me sanity be prepared for what is to come be prepared for what is to So what I'm going to say Jamaica send it to make see it there WhatsApp channel see it there again Jamaica every night if it is not him it's the other one see it there now hold on they don't put up this >> [clears throat] >> theme li now send it Jamaica send it to so every day there it is a for discriminate me is a attack me but I'm going to set yes you can put it up you can put it up Jamaica I want to ask you Jamaica, the distractions are coming. But I'm going to say to you, every day you Abka, all of you, say, nationwide, all of you can do what you're doing.

[00:19:14]But it won't stop me from representing the people of Jamaica.

[00:19:20]My representation for the people of Jamaica doesn't limit myself being in Gordon House or the Senate.

[00:19:26]I represent the people of Jamaica every second, every hour, every minute.

[00:19:35]Don't you realize that majority of you are losing the people's favorability?

[00:19:41]Don't you realize it's people like myself and Marvin Edgar and other young people and other voices in this country that is gaining a relevance.