The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging farmers to carefully document damage to their farms, produce, and livestock. This effort is critical to supporting national damage assessment activities, particularly as access to several areas remains restricted following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Senior RADA Plant Health and Food Safety Officer, Francine Webb, noted that assessments remain ongoing as the...

The Government is establishing a National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARA) to lead, coordinate, fast-track and oversee national rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. “The NARA will focus on building back better – safer homes, climate-resilient infrastructure, better land use planning, relocation from high-risk zones,” said Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. He said that new...

Hurricane Melissa damaged 156,000 dwellings across the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, St. James, Trelawny and Hanover, with 24,000 being total losses. Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gave the update during a special press conference at Jamaica House on November 19. He reported that 97 emergency shelters remain active,...

The parishes of St. Elizabeth, St. James and Westmoreland experienced the worst impact from hurricane Melissa, accounting for US$5.5 billion in damage, says World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc. The figure is 63 per cent of the total damage sustained across the island, which amounts to a record US $8.8 billion, she informed. Ms. Burunciuc was presenting...

The Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA) has contributed $5 million to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Hurricane Melissa Relief Effort. The presentation was made during a handover ceremony at the PSOJ’s offices in Kingston on Wednesday (November 19). Chief Executive Officer of the JBA, Barbara Hume, said the contribution reflects the association’s shared commitment to stand with Jamaica at...

Acting Chief Public Health Inspector for St. James, Sherika Lewis, is recommending the establishment of communal sanitation systems for residents affected by Hurricane Melissa. “We are aware that there are some communities that predominantly have pit latrines [and that others have no facilities at all]. At this time, it is going to be a challenge, and we are concerned about...

The visit to Whitehouse and adjoining communities in Westmoreland by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness and CARICOM Heads, on November 17, is being viewed by some residents as a sign of hope for better things to come. While readily acknowledging that the visit, which also included representatives of several international lending agencies, will not immediately fix the...