Jamaica establishes oversight committee for Hurricane Melissa school repairs
Key Points(5)
- Jamaica’s Ministry of Education has established a new oversight committee to monitor the repair and reconstruction of more than 300 schools severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa, with some rebuilding projects expected to continue into 2028.
- Education Minister Sen.
- Dana Morris Dixon announced the Hurricane Melissa School Infrastructure Recovery and Resilience Oversight Committee during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
- The committee will provide independent oversight of the government’s school rehabilitation and reconstruction program, focusing on accountability, quality assurance and transparency.
- More than 300 educational institutions were severely damaged when Category 5 Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025.
Jamaica’s Ministry of Education has established a new oversight committee to monitor the repair and reconstruction of more than 300 schools severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa, with some rebuilding projects expected to continue into 2028.
Education Minister Sen. Dana Morris Dixon announced the Hurricane Melissa School Infrastructure Recovery and Resilience Oversight Committee during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
The committee will provide independent oversight of the government’s school rehabilitation and reconstruction program, focusing on accountability, quality assurance and transparency.
More than 300 educational institutions were severely damaged when Category 5 Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025. While some schools require repairs, others must be completely rebuilt.
“For some of those schools … it’s new build. The buildings don’t exist, so you’re starting from scratch,” Morris Dixon said. “Some of these [projects] are going to go into next year, and some [of the larger ones] will [extend] into the following year.”
The committee has initially been established for one year and will provide the minister and the public with independent assessments of the recovery effort.
It will review progress reports from the National Education Trust and the ministry’s Technical Services Unit, including information on project schedules, spending, construction quality, safety, defects and contractor performance.
Members will also be tasked with identifying delays, capacity constraints, unresolved approvals and other obstacles that could prevent projects from being completed on schedule.
According to Morris Dixon, the committee will engage with contractors and other project partners through the relevant technical and contracting authorities to identify and address challenges.
It will also make recommendations on the sequencing of projects, corrective measures, contractor performance, quality improvements and risk mitigation.
Committee members are expected to conduct school visits, intervene where necessary and provide regular updates and recommendations to the minister and permanent secretary.
The committee is chaired by Rochelle Cameron and also includes Lyttleton “Tanny” Shirley, Rohan Grant, Vivette McIntosh Yates, Floretta Plummer, Dr. Elaine McCarty Nunes, Fabian Brown and Rayharna Wright.
“These are all individuals who are committed to Jamaica, committed to education, want to see this historic work happen and lead to the benefit of our children,” Morris Dixon said.
