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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, at Jamaica House in Kingston, on Wednesday (November 19).
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, at Jamaica House in Kingston, on Wednesday (November 19).

JPS to Bring in 300 More Linesmen

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is working with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to bring in additional resources, including 300 linesmen, to return electricity to the island at a quicker pace. “On the general...
Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gives an update on the country’s Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts at a special press conference on November 19 at Jamaica House.
Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gives an update on the country’s Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts at a special press conference on November 19 at Jamaica House.

National Relief Effort Remains Robust
Deputy Managing Director, Water Resources Authority (WRA), Geoffrey Marshall.
Deputy Managing Director, Water Resources Authority (WRA), Geoffrey Marshall.

WRA Reports Groundwater Levels in Content, Manchester, Slowly Receding After Flooding
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne (left), speaks to reporters at a media briefing in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, following a tour of several hurricane-affected communities in western Jamaica, on November 17. Listening at right is President of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), Ilan Goldfajn.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne (left), speaks to reporters at a media briefing in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, following a tour of several hurricane-affected communities in western Jamaica, on November 17. Listening at right is President of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), Ilan Goldfajn.

Antigua’s PM Says Jamaica Can Bounce Back Bigger and Better
President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn (right), speaks to reporters about his organisation’s support for Jamaica’s hurricane recovery effort, during a visit to some of the affected areas in Westmoreland on November 17. Listening at left is Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.
President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn (right), speaks to reporters about his organisation’s support for Jamaica’s hurricane recovery effort, during a visit to some of the affected areas in Westmoreland on November 17. Listening at left is Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

International Lending Agencies Commit to Jamaica’s Recovery Effort

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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery at Jamaica House on Wednesday (November 19).
HousingHurricane Relief & Recovery

NHT to Procure 5,000 Container Homes for Hurricane Relief

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced that the National Housing Trust (NHT) will procure 5,000 pre‑built container homes for rapid deployment across the island, in order to address urgent housing needs following Hurricane Melissa. “We have examined pre-built containerised modular solutions, and we have settled in our minds that this is appropriate for the Jamaican situation...
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AgricultureHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

RADA Urges Farmers to Document Hurricane Damage for National Assessment Efforts

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...
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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announces the establishment of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARA), during a press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday (Nov. 19).
Hurricane Relief & RecoveryPrime Minister

NARA to Lead and Fast-Track National Reconstruction Efforts

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...
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Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gives an update on the country’s hurricane Melissa recovery efforts at a special press conference on November 19 at Jamaica House.
CommunityDevelopmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

156,000 Dwellings Damaged Across Six Parishes

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,...
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World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean countries, Lilia Burunciuc, delivers an address at a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, held at Jamaica House in Kingston on Wednesday (November 19).
DevelopmentHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

St. Elizabeth, St. James, Westmoreland Sustained US$5.5 Billion in Damage from Hurricane Melissa

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...
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Jamaica Banker’s Association (JBA) President, Audrey Tugwell Henry (centre), hands over a cheque valued $5 million to Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President, Metry Seaga (second right), towards the PSOJ’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Effort. Sharing in the presentation are (from left) JBA Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Hume; Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) President , Kathryn Silvera; and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) President, Emile Leiba. The handover ceremony was held on Wednesday (November 19) at the PSOJ’s offices in Kingston.
Hurricane Relief & Recovery

JBA Contributes $5M to PSOJ Hurricane Melissa Relief Effort

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...
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Acting Chief Public Health Inspector for St. James, Sherika Lewis, addresses the recent St. James Municipal Corporation monthly meeting in Montego Bay.
Health & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Communal Sanitation Systems Proposed to Support Hurricane-Affected Residents in St. James

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...
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