Minister Emphasises Importance of Collaboration in Disaster Management

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has emphasised the importance of collaboration in improving Jamaica’s disaster management.

“As a country, we have to take disasters seriously, and that is why we have legislated a significant portion of our disaster response, and we are going to continue to strengthen that, but it also gives us an opportunity to expand our relationship with organisations such as the [World Food Programme],” he said.

Mr. McKenzie was addressing a meeting with World Food Programme (WFP) executives on Tuesday (September 17), at the Ministry’s Hagley Park Road offices in Kingston.

Meanwhile, Representative and Country Director, WFP, Brian Bogart, said visits will be made to areas affected by Hurricane Beryl in Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth in the coming days.

He said the organisation has been supporting Jamaica since the passage of the hurricane, in the areas of logistics, assessments and analysis of impact.

“We are committed very much to the long term and to strengthening whatever capacities we can work with you on at the institutional level for disaster management – from preparedness to anticipatory action and response,” Mr. Bogart said.

In response, Mr. McKenzie said, “Overall, your programme is something that I think will be a welcome one and it will strengthen our capacity as a country in responding to the various disasters that will come.”

Meanwhile, Mr. McKenzie expressed gratitude to the WFP for its cash assistance to hurricane victims.

“It couldn’t come at a better time. It complements what the Government has been doing in terms of the Rebuild Jamaica initiative, and it also fits in nicely with the support that we have been getting from our sister agencies and sister countries,” he said.

The WFP will be disbursing US$1.4 million to 11,500 beneficiaries over a two-month period.

“The transfer values are graded in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, based on the damage and severity of damage to households,” Mr. Bogart explained.