Jamaica “Building Forward” in the Aftermath of Hurricane Melissa – Dr. Wheatley

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says the Government is focused on “building forward” in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

The strategy is not just aimed at restoring damaged infrastructure but strengthening the country’s climate resilience.

“We must build forward colleagues. We cannot just think about recovery or rebuilding in the traditional sense. We must build forward, smarter, stronger and fundamentally more resilient,” he said.

Dr. Wheatley was addressing the Scientific Research Council’s (SRC) recent Conversation in Science 2025 event held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

He was speaking against the background of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which is the first category five system to make landfall in Jamaica.

The World Bank estimates that Melissa caused approximately US$8.8 billion in physical damage to Jamaica, equivalent to 41 per cent of the nation’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP), making it the costliest storm in the country’s history.

He noted that the cost of damage from Melissa alone, which does not take into account economic losses such as revenue earnings,  has eclipsed the cumulative damage from disasters between 2000 and 2021.

“During that 21-year period, intense hydro meteorological events such as hurricanes, storms and droughts caused damage and losses exceeding US$870 million to our nation. Over those 21 years, the damage was under a billion US dollars,” Dr. Wheatley pointed out.

“So, that one event [Melissa] eclipsed the 21 years … and right now, we are facing a situation, with just preliminary analysis; we’re not looking at the cost associated with manpower [and] working hours. We’re just looking at the infrastructure, road networks, buildings, homes. We’re not looking at the contents of these buildings, homes, and we are at US$8.8 billion,” he lamented.

In addition, with Melissa coming just 15 months after Hurricane Beryl, Dr. Wheatley pointed out that the region is facing the reality of stronger, faster and more frequent storms, and building the country’s resilience to withstand and recover from disasters is imperative.

“The persons who are into data management and mapping and climate change will tell you that these events are coming more often than before,” Dr. Wheatley said, noting that “we [cannot] continue to do the same things that we always do and expect to get a different result if another hurricane should pass our way.”

“We must prepare ourselves now to brace for future events of this nature. The only way we can protect ourselves as a people, as a country, is to be smarter in our approach and build out in a more resilient manner,” he emphasised.

Dr. Wheatley said that the  SRC, now in its 65^th year of service to this nation, has a mandate that will facilitate the development of Jamaica’s resources through scientific research, but more importantly, to transfer that technology to all sectors of society and be a bedrock of the practical areas of research.

This will help greatly in the rebuilding process and help guide the affected persons in a better way.