PM Highlights Value of Partnerships in Building Resilience to Disasters

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has emphasised the value of partnerships in building the country’s disaster resilience.

He said that in the face of increasing climate-related shocks, the contributions of and collaborations with non-governmental organisations (NGO), the private sector and international partners are crucial for Jamaica’s long-term, sustainable development.

“We are committed to formalising and strengthening these partnerships, embedding them into our national disaster risk governance framework for the long term,” the Prime Minister said.

He was addressing a recent function, hosted by the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation at the S Hotel in Kingston.

The function was held to provide an update on the Building a Better Jamaica Fund, which was launched on July 8, 2024, to support the country’s Hurricane Beryl relief efforts.

The Fund, administered by the NCB Foundation, was established to facilitate contributions to assist communities impacted by the passage of the hurricane on July 3, to recover and rebuild.

It raised $459 million, surpassing its target of $300 million, and bringing relief assistance to 12,685 families.

The Prime Minister commended NCB for its significant contributions to the national recovery effort.

He also recognised the input of several international partners including World Central Kitchen, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“I must take this moment to express our profound gratitude to our civil society and international partners… . Your rapid response, generosity and commitment to community upliftment have been nothing short of extraordinary and on behalf of the people of Jamaica, I say thank you,” he expressed.

World Central Kitchen provided nearly 40,000 meals to persons in the storm-affected communities, and basic supplies in the critical days of the response. GEM facilitated repairs to 714 homes, including 557 roofs in St. Elizabeth and 157 in Clarendon, assisting more than 2,100 Jamaicans.

In addition, 1,200 home gear kits were supplied to affected persons with 261 distributed by the IOM and 939 by GEM, impacting more than 3,400 residents and community members.

Training in good roofing practices were also conducted to ensure that reconstruction was done to higher standards, reaching more than 6,000 people.

Prime Minister Holness highlighted the contribution of the Jamaican Diaspora, which he said, continues to be a cornerstone of national resilience.

“Whether through financial contributions in kind, support or advocacy abroad, your engagement reminds us that Jamaica’s strength extends far beyond its borders,” he said.

“As we look to the future, the Government remains unwavering in its commitment to building a smart, a safer and more climate-resilient Jamaica,” he added.