Jamaica suffers billions of losses

KINGSTON, Jamaica  – Jamaica has suffered billions of dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Sandy last week, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has announced.
In a prepared statement to Parliament, she said the agricultural sector alone had recorded damages of J$1.5 billion, as the hurricane, the 18th named storm of the 2012 Atlantic Season caused “significant damage” to the banana, plantain and cocoa industries and cash crops.
She said damage was also done to coffee, coconut, livestock and vegetables.
Simpson Miller, who praised the “spirit of Jamaicans” as well as the various state agencies engaged in the rescue operations, said that 61 schools had been affected and the assessments so far has put a price tag of J$170 million. (CMC)