300 YSEP WORKERS TO ASSIST WITH POST MELISSA DATA GATHERING

Posted on November 11, 2025November 11, 2025

The Ministry will be enlisting 300 of the Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) participants, to assist in the data gathering process to determine the necessity of the shelters that have remained open since the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Hon. Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development made the announcement during a Special Press Briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning (Nov. 11, 2025).

“Next week, we will be putting some 300 workers of the Youth Summer Employment Programme to go into the affected areas to do an actual count of the numbers of persons in the shelters and once that is done, we will take a determination how many shelters we will be closing down or  how many shelters must remain in operation,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The purpose of the exercise with the YSEP workers… is to collect the data to give ourselves a better opportunity to do to the assessment that is needed. The ODPEM the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the local authorities have a vested interest in ensuring that the number of persons that we are providing for are the genuine people that really need the relief supplies,” he continued.

The Minister revealed that once the assessment concludes, the government will move into collective phase where a decision will be made to help alleviate the discomfort experienced by residents whose homes were destroyed in the hurricane.

This process is expected to work in tandem with the government’s Temporary Housing Programme, which is geared towards housing citizens who have been displaced by the disaster as recovery efforts continue.

YSEP was launched in 2017 and has employed more than 50,000 Jamaican youth during the summer period over the span of nine years. Some of these participants have secured permanent employment within the local government system. The three hundred workers who will participate in this data collection project will be selected from a cohort of trained past participants from several parishes.

WPM WASTE MANAGEMENT LIMITED INTENSIFIES CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS IN ST. JAMES

Posted on November 11, 2025

MONTEGO BAY, November 10 (JIS):

WPM Waste Management Limited has intensified clean-up operations across St. James, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, with night shifts now being activated to clear mini dumps and restore cleanliness across Montego Bay.

Speaking with JIS News after a meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), held at the St. James Municipal Corporation on November 6, Regional Operations Manager, Dramaine Jones, said teams have been working tirelessly to clear debris and restore regular collection services.

“Since the hurricane passed, we’ve been doing assessments, but while doing that we have continued maintenance of the main roads as well as the town centres. We still have some amount of buildup within Montego Bay, so we are activating our night shift to ensure the space is cleaned starting tonight,” Mr. Jones said.

He noted that regular garbage collection continues to take place during the mornings to reduce congestion in the city.

“We are ensuring that we dispatch as early as possible, so that units can get the waste before traffic starts to build up,” he explained.

Clean-up teams are also targeting major dump sites in areas such as Salt Spring, Catherine Hall, and near the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), with heavy equipment, including backhoes, being deployed to remove waste.

“This will continue until the area is clean,” the Regional Operations Manager said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jones further noted that WPM continues to strengthen its partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the St. James Health Department, and the municipal corporation, to coordinate efforts and maintain sanitary conditions across the parish.

In a move to assist residents affected by the storm, WPM has waived landfill fees for the disposal of storm-related waste.

“Those persons affected who have storm waste can proceed to the landfill to dispose of it properly. We’ve set up an area for this and will be seeking additional equipment to ensure proper management,” Mr. Jones said.

He added that the company is assessing its fleet to boost capacity and ensure efficiency in waste collection and disposal.

“We are doing all that is necessary to ensure that we can give you a clean St. James, a clean Montego Bay,” he assured.

GUYANA DONATES RELIEF SUPPLIES TO JAMAICA

Posted on November 10, 2025

#PostHurricaneMelissa

On Friday November 7, Minister of Local Government and Community Development. Hon. Desmond McKenzie officially received relief supplies on behalf of the Government of Jamaica donated by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The contribution, which consists of chainsaws, tarpaulins and other well-needed items, will be used to aid in the recovery process in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Minister McKenzie noted that the support Jamaica has been receiving underscores how the island of Jamaica is seen and admired as aid continues to pour in. He expressed appreciation for the donation and added that the items will be used to strengthen the government’s efforts to bring relief to those affected.

“Despite our distance in the region as you said, we are far, but when we need friends, the distance becomes very short…I want to first of all express on behalf of the Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness and the Government and people of Jamaica our sincere thanks and appreciation to the government and the people of Guyana for your generosity in our time of need,” he said.

“This contribution to our relief efforts will go a far way in strengthening the work that we are doing,” Mr. McKenzie added.

Honorary  Consul General of Guyana to Jamaica, Dr Indera Persaud, made mention of other initiatives that the Government of Guyana will be undertaking in tandem with the Jamaican Government to further boost relief efforts across the island as she alluded to the voucher system that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security along with private sector entities are working to implement for residents in Western Jamaica who are having difficulties accessing basic items.

The shipment is one of the many regional and international relief aid that Jamaica has received since the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, an event that will forever be etched in our country’s history.

MINISTER MCKENZIE TOURS FALMOUTH

Posted on November 10, 2025November 10, 2025

#PostHurricaneMelissa

On Saturday afternoon, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon Desmond McKenzie along with the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collen Gager, and Technical Officers from the Ministry and the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, embarked on a tour of Parish capital, Falmouth. The minister and the team had a first of hand look at the damage left behind in wake of Hurricane Melissa.

The tour, which included a comprehensive walk through of the Falmouth Fire Station, the Municipal Corporation Road and Works Department, The Council building, the Drop-in Centre, the Trelawny Infirmary, the Poor Relief Department, and the Albert George Market.

“ The Drop-in Centre and the shelter, is in excellent condition, I visited recently and I am proud, only a few broken windows and doors…The Municipal Building, that building is one of the oldest buildings in Trelawny and in Jamaica, I think the time has come when I have to engage Minister Grange, who is the Minister of Culture to speak about the question of Falmouth and building which are protected by the National Heritage Trust, it is clear that if any of these buildings are to be repaired, they cannot be repaired to the same standards that is set because of the existing conditions,” Minister McKenzie noted while addressing the media after the tour.

The Minister underscored that efforts to recover from the effects of the Hurricane will be a community effort, after a vendor highlighted that the government cannot do it alone.

“One lady said to me, she knows that the government alone can’t do it, and I was glad to hear that so I’m urging the people here, to exercise some level of discretion,”

The Minister further added that the Trelawny infirmary, which sat on the coastline of the parish and housed some fifty patients with fifty employees, was destroyed during the passage of the hurricane.

“I visited the infirmary, and I can tell you that, there is no way that that infirmary will be able, anytime soon, to take back the residents that use to occupy, over a hundred persons, residents and staff operate out of the infirmary. We are now, have to be looking at what is the alternative arrangements that will be made to house the residents” he said.

The Minister commended the firefighters who have continued with civil duties even though many of them have been displaced because of the hurricane.

He also announced that extensive clean-up efforts are underway as the town–which is already seeing some commercial businesses returning to operation, is determined to return to some sense of normalcy. These sentiments were echoed by vendors who expressed that they wanted to have the market in operable condition in time for the Christmas season.

The Mayor expressed his appreciation to Minister McKenzie and added that the Municipal Corporation remains committed to ensuring that the parish of Trelawny will carry out cleaning exercise as early as Monday (November 10) so that vendors will be able to resume trade in short order.

“We are here at the market… cleaning u will start on Monday morning, bright and early, three trucks will be here and we will be taking away all of the debris and we want to clear the parking lot, so as early as possible, we can have bend-down market established on the compound again,” Councillor Gager said.

He closed by assuring vendors that during the rehabilitative period, vendors will enjoy a market fee waiver, as the community works together to recover from the devastating blow of Hurricane Melissa.

CHINESE COMMUNITY DONATES $2.5 MILLION IN RELIEF SUPPLIES TO ST. ANN

Posted on November 7, 2025

MONTEGO BAY, November 5 (JIS):

The Chinese community, through the Guangdong Association, has donated approximately $2.5 million worth of relief supplies to support recovery efforts in St. Ann’s Bay following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The donation, which includes bottled water, toiletries, and basic food items such as flour and rice, will be distributed to the St. Ann’s Bay Infirmary, senior citizens, and residents whose homes were damaged during the hurricane.

Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis, told JIS News on Monday (November 3) that the contribution was in response to an appeal made to the business community for assistance.

“We put out an SOS to the business community, and the Chinese community in St. Ann’s Bay responded in a big way,” he said.

The Mayor noted that each councillor in the parish will receive approximately 100 care packages for distribution across their respective divisions.

He informed that the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, will also be providing care packages to supplement local recovery efforts.

Additionally, the St. Ann’s Bay Municipal Corporation has partnered with food establishments, including Island Grill and Mother’s restaurant to provide meals and water to affected residents.

He noted that access to “clean, fresh, potable water is important right now, so we’re ensuring that this happens” Mayor Belnavis said.

PORTLAND MAKES STEADY PROGRESS IN RECOVERY EFFORT

Posted on November 6, 2025

MORANT BAY, November 5 (JIS):

There has been steady progress in recovery and relief efforts in the parish of Portland, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28.

Parish Disaster Coordinator, Denise Lewis, told JIS News in an interview that while the parish was spared the worst from Hurricane Melissa, the activities of the Portland Municipal Corporation and stakeholders also assisted in minimising the effects of the category-five storm.

“The Corporation ensured that we had our emergency operations meeting with government and non-governmental organisations. During the storm, there was communication with the public [and] as soon as the storm was through, our government and non-governmental organisations carried out assessments,” Mrs. Lewis said.

She disclosed that three shelters remain open out of the 60 that were activated throughout Melissa’s passage. They are the Manchioneal Primary School with 10 persons, one person at Reach All-Age School, and a family of four at the Woodstock Housing Scheme Community Centre.

“We continue to give the humanitarian assistance to persons within shelters, but not only within shelters; it’s across the length and breadth of Portland, as persons have had their roofs lifted and zincs blown. So, we continue across the parish to carry out assessments and, of course, giving care packages where they are needed,” Mrs. Lewis said.

She lamented, however, that one male died in his house due to a fallen tree.

In terms of the road network in the parish, Mrs. Lewis said that there were reports of damage.

“But our responders worked assiduously to ensure that blocked roads were totally cleared across the parish. Those that were not totally cleared were partially cleared and work continues,” she pointed out.

Although power restoration is ongoing and many residents remain without electricity and cell reception, Mrs. Lewis committed that the parish will “build back better”.

“The journey continues as the Humanitarian Committee members, headed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, do their assessments so that information gathered can be shared locally and to the point of nationally, so that the necessary assistance for roofs to be repaired, or so that those persons whose houses have been destroyed can go back to normalcy,” the Disaster Coordinator said.

MINISTER MCKENZIE ANNOUNCES NATIONAL CLEANUP CAMPAIGN

Posted on November 5, 2025December 11, 2025

KINGSTON, Nov. 3 (JIS):

A national cleanup campaign will be undertaken following the devastation caused across the island by Hurricane Melissa.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said he will announce the roll out of the initiative later this week.

“A part of any recovery must be keeping our cities, towns and communities clean,” he said, while addressing a special media briefing at Jamaica House on November 3.

He informed that the initiative will be led by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), with the participation of several key agencies, including the National Works Agency (NWA), Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

“The SDC will be responsible for coordinating community activities throughout, and this will be a call for national duty, for national response. The country will require the full support [and] participation of all Jamaicans in this exercise,” he said.

Minister Mckenzie, who visited St. Elizabeth on Saturday (Nov. 1) said “what I saw was devastating,” emphasising the importance of unity in the recovery process.

“This is the time when all of Jamaica [should come together] and I am going to be reaching out to my opposition counterpart [Natalie Neita-Garvey] to invite her to the meeting to discuss the cleanup exercise because we are taking a national approach,” he said.

ST. JAMES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

Posted on November 4, 2025

MONTEGO BAY, October 31 (JIS):

International partners have begun offering support to St. James as the parish moves into the recovery phase following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, told JIS News that the municipality has already received outreach from overseas entities willing to assist in rebuilding efforts, including the Spanish Embassy.

“We have been receiving calls from persons outside. International aid, at this time, is very welcome. We can’t recover without the partnership of our brothers and sisters externally,” he said.

The Mayor expressed gratitude for the outpouring of solidarity, noting that Montego Bay’s resilience and community spirit will be central to its recovery.

He assured the international community that tourists on the island are safe, noting that there have been no distress calls from hotels and only three reports from visitors in Airbnb accommodations.

“They managed to stay safely, and all tourists are in good condition. We have not had any incidents or injuries among them,” he said.

Mayor Vernon added that the Sangster International Airport is in “reset mode” and recovery work is progressing faster than anticipated.

“Very soon, persons will be able to fly home to visit their loved ones and understand what they have gone through. We are pushing hard as a city to ensure we reconnect people once more,” he said.

He underscored that the recovery of Montego Bay will depend on unity and collaboration at all levels.

“We need national, regional, international, and community support to get this done, and I believe that support is there. We just need to coordinate it properly,” he said.

Mayor Vernon sent a message of hope and determination to the citizenry of the parish.