Work Done to Shore-Up Infrastructure Ahead of Hurricane Season

The National Works Agency (NWA) and its stakeholder partners have been engaged in preparing and strengthening Jamaica’s critical infrastructure for emergency events, well ahead of the hurricane season.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with Responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan, said the focus has been on the inspection and protection of roads, bridges and important access points.

“It is a whole-of-government approach. We have been preparing for the hurricane season before the [start of] the hurricane season,” he said.

The Minister was speaking during a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC) at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in Kingston on Monday (July 1) to discuss preparations for Hurricane Beryl.

Minister Morgan informed that at the direction of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, the NWA activated its emergency protocols as early as last week.

“What that means is that our various parish offices have already engaged contractors and other service suppliers across the island to be prepared for what could possibly be a major hurricane event,” he explained.

Minister Morgan said drain cleaning and other preparatory work have been ongoing.

“Every constituency would have been allocated funding through central government, and I know that [the Ministry of] Local Government has allocated funding as well to carry out drain cleaning across the island; and this will help to mitigate instances of flooding,” he indicated.

“We are pre-positioning resources in case of any eventuality. We have done major inspections of critical infrastructure and we are prepared. Our contractors and other service providers have been put on alert to be prepared, and we will ensure that there is continued access as quickly as possible for critical services,” Minister Morgan added.