ODPEM’S Restructuring Among Local Gov’t Ministry’s Priorities for Fiscal Year 2025/26

Restructuring of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is among the top priorities for the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in fiscal year 2025/26.

This was disclosed by Custos Rotulorum for Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller, while delivering the Throne Speech during the 2025/26 Ceremonial Opening of Parliament at Gordon House on Thursday (February 13).

Mr. Fuller, who deputised for Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, noted that Jamaica is at risk for numerous natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.

“To bolster disaster resilience, the Government will overhaul disaster risk management, restructuring the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility, in partnership with the United Nations (UN) Capital Development Fund, will channel climate finance to local governments, with Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments evaluating municipal disaster risks.

The Custos, who indicated that support for the vulnerable also remains a priority, advised: “In 2025/26, the Government will employ and train psychiatric nurses’ aides to enhance mental health services in infirmaries and drop-in centres.”

Mr. Fuller said support to vulnerable groups in the past year saw more than 337,000 meals and care packages distributed to the homeless, 14 homes being completed under the Indigent Housing Programme and critical repairs and medical upgrades to infirmaries islandwide.

He informed that youth empowerment was a big focus for the Local Government Ministry in 2024.

This, he said, resulted in a record 7,300 young people participating in the Youth Summer Employment Programme, an 82 per cent increase over 2023.

Mr. Fuller said the Government continues to strengthen social, regulatory and governance frameworks to enhance community development and quality of life.

“Jamaica has fully adopted new residential, fire and international building codes, with extensive training provided to municipal corporations and agencies. The Jamaica Fire Brigade will also modernise forensic fire investigation through partnerships with the UWI (University of the West Indies), and specialised training,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Custos pointed out that significant legislative progress was made in 2024.

He noted that this included passage of the Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which seeks to grant parish status to Portmore, making it Jamaica’s 15th, while describing this as “a milestone in local government”.

The Throne Speech was presented under the theme ‘Jamaica’s Next Chapter: Aspiring to Greatness’.