Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday announced that the government will provide more assistance in coming weeks to help cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.
Mr. Holness said he understood how Jamaicans felt when they looked at the rising prices for food and other commodities, such as electricity, but he sought to assure that "this, too, will pass".
But while Jamaicans wait for this period to "pass", the Prime Minister said the government would continue to provide assistance, which would include more cash transfers.
He disclosed that focus will be on poor and vulnerable Jamaicans "to ensure that they can survive this difficult time until matters in the geopolitical arena are resolved and some stability can return to our global energy and food markets".
Mr. Holness was speaking at the opening of the Isratech Supercentre in Shooter's Hill, Manchester.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke said the cost of intervention programmes is putting a strain on the budget.
The latest programme is the We CARE Energy Co-Pay, under which the government pays a portion of the electricity bill for some Jamaicans over four months.
The programme is costing more than $700 million per month.
Dr. Clarke said the government has had to dig deep to find the additional funds to assist Jamaicans.