Damage to the country’s infrastructure due to Hurricane Melissa is estimated at around 6 to 7 billion US dollars.

The category 5 hurricane battered the island last Tuesday leaving thousands homeless and at least 32 dead.

Speaking at today’s sitting of parliament, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness noted that the damage caused by Melissa will have a profound economic impact on the country.

He said the storm struck the heart of the country’s productive belt.

The Prime Minister said the preliminary figure is equivalent to around 28 to 32 percent of last fiscal year’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said the country has never had a natural disaster of this magnitude in its history.

The Prime Minister noted that he expects that the final figure will be prepared in the coming weeks.