As the region braces for what forecasters warn will be a turbulent hurricane season, the Jamaican Government has launched an aggressive, no-delay response — setting aside over $800 million to shield communities before disaster strikes.
Unlike previous years, where response often followed the storm, this year’s strategy is preemptive and precision-driven. Minister Robert Morgan, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, made it clear: there will be no waiting this time.
“We are not reacting — we are anticipating,” Morgan said, underscoring a shift in tone and tempo for national preparedness.
A Forecast Too Serious to Ignore
With projections calling for 19 named storms — including up to four major hurricanes — the island is facing the kind of meteorological setup that destroyed homes and infrastructure during the likes of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Rafael just months ago.
The government’s funding strategy this time focuses on reinforcement, not recovery.
Where the Money is Going: A Quick Breakdown
- $300M to secure the Sandy Gully in Kingston/St. Andrew
- $100M to fortify Montego Bay’s flood-prone gullies
- $60M toward critical works in Bog Walk and Dyke Road, St. Catherine
- $200M for targeted interventions along Jamaica’s vulnerable South Coast
- $172M directly to constituencies — nearly double last year’s allocation
Morgan said the National Works Agency (NWA) has already moved from planning to execution — locking in contractors, placing equipment across regions, and addressing past communication breakdowns that slowed response times.
Beyond Infrastructure: A Call for Political Maturity
The Minister called on fellow MPs to rise above partisanship and treat hurricane preparation as a shared national duty.
“It’s not about who clears the drain — it’s that the drain gets cleared before the flood,” he said, urging coordinated readiness across all parishes.
NOAA to Weigh In Next
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is set to deliver its own seasonal outlook later this week, a forecast likely to reinforce Jamaica’s proactive stance.
For now, Morgan says the approach is simple: “We’re racing the storms to the finish line. And this time, we intend to win.”
