Jamaica advances hurricane-resilient building rules, waste campaign and recovery data systems

Jamaica will introduce a revised building code in the current financial year as part of national reconstruction after Hurricane Melissa severely damaged the built environment in western parishes. Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie told the 2026-27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday that new structures will have to be built to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.

McKenzie said municipal corporations will receive stronger enforcement powers, with mandatory compliance checks and heavier penalties for illegal building, especially in high-risk areas. More building officers are also to be hired after the Ministry of Finance approved a revised establishment for the posts. Between January and March, nearly 1,400 building applications valued at $68.8 billion were submitted, including an 11 per cent rise in small residential projects under 300 square metres.

The minister also announced a $200-million National Solid Waste Management Authority public education campaign to promote civic responsibility, reduce illegal dumping and cut littering. He said enforcement is being stepped up islandwide after more than 2,000 anti-litter tickets and over 9,000 removal notices were issued last year. The NSWMA is aiming for collection every seven to 10 days, while also pursuing a special programme to remove 8,000 tons of bulky waste and a wider target of 1.2 million tons of garbage this year.

Jamaica has also strengthened disaster response arrangements for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season through a multi-agency data governance framework. ODPEM Director General Commander Alvin Gayle and five permanent secretaries signed agreements on Tuesday to support GeoConnect, a secure platform for real-time sharing, checking and verification of damage assessment data. Permanent Secretary Arlene Williams said the system grew out of lessons from Hurricane Melissa and will help agencies verify beneficiary information across several databases.

The National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority will use recognised international systems as it coordinates post-hurricane rebuilding, according to CEO Ambassador Retired Major General Anthony Anderson. In an interview with GIS CEO Giovanni Dennis, he said NARA will not duplicate ministries and agencies, but will help reduce delays, fragmentation and bureaucracy while serving as a technical centre for project preparation and delivery.

At the Island States Ocean Summit in Japan, Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda urged stronger support for small island developing states pursuing a sustainable blue economy. He noted that more than 80 per cent of Jamaicans live on or within five kilometres of the coast, making climate change and sea-level rise major threats. He also cited new protected-area policy work, a cays management policy and expanded fish sanctuaries.

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said the USS Nimitz visit to the Port of Kingston forms part of longstanding Jamaica-United States cooperation. The aircraft carrier arrived Monday on its final Southern Seas 2026 Goodwill Tour stop and is scheduled to remain until June 5, with crew members involved in school refurbishment, sports activities, STEM exchanges, Jamaica Defence Force engagements and university visits.