PM Holness says Hurricane Melissa recovery must spark national transformation

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa must go beyond repairs and become a turning point for long-overdue national transformation, particularly in infrastructure, urban planning and public safety.

Speaking with journalists in Black River on December 31, following the inaugural Black River Fireworks Festival, Holness said the widespread damage caused by the hurricane exposed deep-rooted development challenges that have held the country back for decades.

“The crisis should be seen by all Jamaicans as an opportunity for us to rebuild, but not what was there before,” the Prime Minister said. “Because what was there before is a constraint on our development.”

Holness pointed to outdated infrastructure layouts and chronic congestion as major obstacles to economic growth and quality of life, especially in urban and town centers.

“The size of the roadways that we have within these areas and how congested they are — that’s a constraint on our development,” he noted.

He argued that the rebuilding process must focus on creating modern, functional towns designed to better serve residents, businesses and future growth.

“Now is an opportunity for us to build towns where people can actually move without congestion, where there is adequate sidewalk and parking and the things that we all want as modern conveniences,” he said.

Looking ahead to the new year, Holness identified public safety as a critical national priority, pointing to a significant reduction in violent crime.

“My New Year’s hope for Jamaica is that we will keep the murder rate low. We are at 700 — that’s the lowest in 31 years,” he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted recent economic gains as a key pillar of recovery, noting that Jamaica recorded five percent growth in the last quarter — the strongest performance in some time.

However, Holness stressed that economic progress alone is not enough. He said lasting development depends on social stability, responsible public discourse and improved civic behavior.

“It’s one thing to reduce murders, it’s another thing to deal with violence and the dysregulated behaviour of many of our citizens,” he said.

Ultimately, he emphasized that peace and investment must go hand in hand if Jamaicans are to see meaningful change in their daily lives.

“If we get those things — peace with a good focus on investment and infrastructure — you will begin to see the actual outward transformation in people and lives in Jamaica,” Holness said.