Vaz hits back at Beenie Man, defends Hurricane Melissa relief spending

Vaz's response comes amid a growing public debate over the management and distribution of hurricane relief assistance, sparked by outspoken dancehall entertainer Beenie Man, who questioned how funds intended to assist Jamaicans affected by the devastating hurricane have been spent.

In a statement posted on social media platform X on Wednesday, Vaz sought to clarify what he described as a widespread misunderstanding of the government's relief and recovery programme.

According to the minister, the $1.7 billion received in donations represents approximately two per cent of the overall expenditure on hurricane relief and recovery, with the government committing billions more to housing assistance, business recovery, agriculture and infrastructure rehabilitation.

"Beenie Man has raised questions about a Beenie percent of the recovery spend: 2%. The amount dwarfs in comparison to the overall relief budget but the clarity must be given for the record," Vaz stated.

The minister acknowledged that some Jamaicans believe the entire $1.7 billion collected in donations should be distributed directly to affected individuals as grants. However, he argued that such an approach overlooks the scale of the recovery effort and the substantial resources already being committed by the Government.

"There are persons who believe that the $1.7 Billion received in Donations should ALL be given in grants. That is okay. The problem is that the Government has given more than the amount received in donations away in grants," he said.

Vaz pointed specifically to the government's ROOFS housing assistance programme, which he said has attracted close to 118,000 applications.

He argued that distributing the $1.7 billion equally among those applicants would provide less than $15,000 per person, an amount unlikely to adequately address the extensive damage suffered by households.

By comparison, Vaz disclosed that the government intends to spend more than $22 billion on the ROOFS programme alone, representing more than 10 times the amount collected in donations.

The minister also highlighted allocations of $500 million in grants for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and $192 million in agricultural grants to assist businesses and farmers affected by the hurricane.

He stressed that these allocations do not account for the wider costs associated with restoring damaged schools, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure, clearing debris and rehabilitating public services.

Vaz further indicated that the government's recovery programme includes more than 2,700 container homes earmarked for completion and installation.

"The people who should get the money is a gross misunderstanding of the relief programme," Vaz declared, challenging the notion that all donated funds should be handed directly to individuals.

Beenie Man Questions Where the Money Has Gone

The minister's intervention follows public criticism from Beenie Man, who questioned the state's handling of hurricane relief resources and the extent to which assistance has reached Jamaicans struggling to rebuild their lives.

The dancehall veteran's comments have added a prominent entertainment industry voice to the national conversation surrounding transparency, accountability and the pace of recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has also responded to the entertainer's criticisms, defending the country's recovery efforts and pushing back against suggestions that relief resources have not been properly utilised.

The exchange has brought renewed attention to the distinction between funds received through donations and the broader expenditure required to restore communities, homes, businesses and public infrastructure.

Questions of Transparency Remain

While Vaz's statement provides a breakdown of several major spending commitments, it also highlights the importance of distinguishing between money already disbursed, allocations approved and expenditure planned for the months ahead.

The minister's figures indicate that Jamaica's recovery commitments extend well beyond the $1.7 billion received in donations. However, the statement does not provide a complete accounting of how those donations have been individually allocated or spent.

For Jamaicans whose homes, businesses and livelihoods were severely affected by Hurricane Melissa, the debate is likely to remain focused on the speed, accessibility and effectiveness of assistance reaching those most in need.

Vaz, however, maintains that the government's recovery programme must be assessed in its entirety rather than solely through the amount received in donations.

With billions of dollars committed to housing reconstruction, business support, agriculture and public infrastructure, the administration's challenge will be to demonstrate how those commitments translate into tangible improvements for hurricane-affected communities.

Meantime, an Auditor General's report found ODPEM had spent just $26.2 million of $1.44 billion in donations as of February 23, 2026. That historical finding is distinct from Vaz's claims about the government's wider recovery expenditure. 

Prime Minister Holness also cited more than $300 million spent repairing Black River Hospital, within a $3.8 billion post-hurricane health-sector allocation, during remarks on October 28.