KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Government has activated a comprehensive disaster preparedness, humanitarian, and recovery plan in anticipation of Hurricane Melissa’s impact.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Robert Morgan, said that up to $400 million has been allocated to strengthen mitigation and emergency response efforts across the island.
“Initially, the National Works Agency (NWA), at the instruction of the Prime Minister, allocated $200 million that went to mitigation efforts, primarily from the eastern side of the island to the southern side of the island, which focused on parishes that are deemed most vulnerable,” Morgan said.
“Recognizing the evolution of the movement of the storm, the Prime Minister instructed that an additional $200 million be allocated for disaster preparedness,” he added.
Morgan noted that all constituencies have received at least $3 million to support local mitigation works, which the NWA is coordinating in collaboration with Members of Parliament and other community partners.
He said special focus is being placed on flood-prone and low-lying areas, including Portland Cottage, sections of Portland, St. Mary, St. Thomas, St. Elizabeth, and Manchester, as well as national assets like Sandy Gully.
The NWA has been fully activated to support national disaster operations, strategically pre-positioning equipment across the island and engaging local contractors to remove debris and reopen roads.
During the hurricane, the agency will work closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to respond to emergencies and restore access routes.
After the storm, Morgan said, the NWA will lead in creating single-lane access to any roads and thoroughfares that may be closed, with a primary focus on providing access to emergency services.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness added that there will be a detailed post-storm recovery framework to ensure accountability and swift assistance to affected Jamaicans.
“There is no break in accountability, and we ask the cooperation of our citizens in providing proper identification so we can track where the benefits go, who received the benefits, and for what reason,” he said.
He stressed that even during disaster response operations, financial rules would remain in place.
“I hasten to advise everyone, in particular the permanent secretaries, the heads of departments, the accounting officers, and the ministers, that there is no suspension of accountability rules. Even in a disaster, every dollar that is spent has to be accounted for,” Holness stressed.
Ensuring proper accountability is crucial, the Prime Minister emphasized, not just for the Government’s records but also because international donors and philanthropic organizations, which are likely to provide support, require that their contributions be appropriately managed and tracked.
He urged Jamaicans to safeguard crucial documents, such as identification cards and birth certificates, as they will be required to access relief benefits.
“Put them in a Ziploc bag, tie them up in a plastic bag, keep them somewhere safe because we’re going to need to be able to identify you to facilitate a rapid recovery process,” Holness advised.
Meanwhile, the Government has made significant financial allocations to bolster flood mitigation and disaster preparedness measures.
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