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The Government will undertake a comprehensive review and restructuring of Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response framework, in light of the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. “One lesson Melissa has taught us is that there can be something greater than Melissa, worse than Melissa. So, it means that, now we have to take a look at our disaster apparatus. That is why the Prime Minister [Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness] has done a review of the disaster structure of the country, and we’re going to be reshaping and remoulding it,” Mr. McKenzie stated. He was speaking during a tour of St. Elizabeth on Saturday (November 1), where he assessed the extent of the damage sustained and oversaw the distribution of relief supplies in Black River. Reflecting on the scale of devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa, Minister McKenzie underscored the urgency of national recovery and the importance of sustained support for affected communities. “I am feeling a sense of loss because we have done a lot of work over the last 10 years to upgrade local government, especially the facilities. We spent a significant amount of money, especially here in St. Elizabeth. All the parishes that have been affected have seen improvements in the last 10 years. So, it’s a major setback, not just a setback to their operations but… their revenue base has been severely compromised,” he stated. The Minister emphasised that, despite the challenges, the recovery process is actively under way. “We’re going to be working with all the parishes to ensure that we put something in place that will start to help them. But right now, the important thing that we’re looking at is to get the relief supplies to the people and the cleaning up of the place. That is going to take a massive programme which I am prepared to speak to in the week… about what we intend to do,” he said. Additionally, in addressing some of the urgent needs of residents, Minister McKenzie noted, “Housing is the main one because almost nine out of every 10 is compromised. “We’re also getting in food supplies now because we are here with GEM (Global Empowerment Mission), and we will be delivering food packages here [in St. Elizabeth] and in Westmoreland,” he stated. Mr. McKenzie reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to providing daily assistance to those affected, noting that multiple local and international agencies are actively on the ground working to ensure that individuals receive essential supplies each day. The Government is also placing high priority on addressing the mental and emotional impact of Hurricane Melissa on affected Jamaicans, as recovery and relief efforts continue. Minister McKenzie noted that national-level discussions are under way to provide mental health support for individuals grappling with the psychological effects of the powerful category-five cyclone. “We are discussing it within the National Disaster Council. The Prime Minister did speak about it… in a meeting that we had. It is something that is high on the list, because there are a lot of Jamaicans, by just the trauma of Melissa, [who are] experiencing those issues right now. It is not something that is lost on the Government,” he assured.
