IRIE FM

President of the Black River Chamber of Commerce, Kadian Myers-Brown, has reiterated the business community’s support for an urban centre near the hurricane-ravaged town.

Her comments come on the heels of Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness’ promise for the Urban Development Corporation to advance its plan for the urban centre.

She says the push to preserve and develop the heritage town must remain equally important to keep businesses dependent on the coastal area alive.

Mrs. Myers-Brown also calls for further and constant consultation with the relevant authorities to ensure the plans are beneficial to all stakeholders.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says despite challenges, including ongoing drought conditions, the sector is expected to return to pre-Hurricane Melissa levels by next year.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, Mr. Green says that while full recovery will take time, the agriculture sector has already returned to its average output levels.

He says if drought conditions ease, the sector will be on track to return to pre-Hurricane Melissa figures in 2027.

He points to the rapid recovery of the sector’s vegetable subsector, which the Minister says augurs well for the industry’s overall comeback.

The Opposition is demanding transparency over the reported reassignment of Financial Secretary Darlene Morrison to a new ministry, effective today.

It notes that the Financial Secretary is the most senior civil servant below the Cabinet Secretary and plays a leading role in the preparation of the national budget.

The opposition says the reported move comes during the budget call period, when stability and continuity are essential.

According to the opposition, the reassignment would amount to a demotion, while questioning the timing of the move.

The People’s National Party is calling on the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to explain the reasons for Ms. Morrison’s reassignment.

Spokesperson on Finance Julian Robinson, pointing to her 37 years of service at the Ministry, questions what prompted the decision.

He says any decision affecting the highest levels of the public service requires public justification.

Mr. Robinson also raises questions about the reported creation of a new ministry.

Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) is appealing to educators to exercise patience as it awaits a response from the Finance Ministry amidst ongoing wage negotiations.

The call comes as some teachers have taken to social media to call for the negotiations to be concluded, allowing them to also benefit from an $80,000 one-off payment made to other public-sector workers whose wage agreements have been finalised.

The JTA rejected the Ministry’s wage offer at its annual conference in August.

President La Sonja Harrison reiterated that a meeting was held with the Ministry on September 22, followed by a separate meeting with the Education Ministry on October 7, to discuss a single matter.

She says the JTA is still awaiting a response from the Finance Ministry on that matter.

Earlier this year, the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions signed a three-year agreement, which includes a one-off payment of $80,000 for the 2025/2026 financial year, followed by a five per cent salary increase in each of the next two years.

Harrison explains that teachers will not be able to benefit from the one-off payment until the JTA’s outstanding claims with the Finance Ministry have been settled.

Calls continue to mount for the Government to provide a comprehensive account of billions of dollars spent on recovery and reconstruction, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Concerns have been raised about the slow pace and cost of school rehabilitation, with questions also being asked about the status of damaged educational facilities.

The call for transparency from the People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) follows the Government’s announcement of restrictions on vehicle purchases, overseas travel and discretionary spending to free up resources for recovery.

General Secretary of the PNPYO, Peta-Gay Gerguson, said that while the youth organisation welcomes the measures, questions remain about why they are being introduced so late and how much the restrictions are expected to save.

She also urged the Government to deliver on a promised public dashboard, providing details on school repairs, contractors, project costs and completion dates.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says the Government will not abandon the historic town of Black River in St. Elizabeth, despite plans to relocate critical infrastructure, including the hospital, to a safer, nearby location.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has been tasked with identifying a suitable site for the relocation exercise.

Dr. Holness was speaking at the reopening of the Black River Hospital, one year after Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage to the facility and several other buildings in the town.

He pointed to Black River’s vulnerability to flooding, warning that a storm surge of just one metre could inundate almost the entire town.

Dr. Holness said a development plan for Black River will be completed soon, while lamenting the delay due to bureaucracy.

He said once the development plan is completed, the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) will carry out the necessary consultations prior to any relocation exercise.

October has emerged as the third deadliest month on Jamaica’s roads so far this year, with fatalities continuing to climb.

Vice-Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr. Lucien Jones, says 35 people have been killed in road crashes this month, with at least 13 of those deaths occurring since last Saturday.

Dr. Jones says five of the fatalities are linked to crashes in Ocho Rios, St. Ann and along Lilliput Main Road in St. James, this morning.

He is calling for an urgent meeting with Council Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, to discuss measures to address the crisis.

Jamaica’s Christmas table is facing a seasonal shakeup, as the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, compounded by ongoing drought conditions, threatens to leave two beloved holiday staples in short supply.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green told IRIE FM News that the production of sorrel and gungo peas has been significantly affected, raising the prospect of less of the traditional red Christmas drink and fewer peas in the pot this yuletide season.

Mr. Green said, despite this setback, Jamaica should have sufficient supplies of other produce, such as chicken and eggs, to meet the Christmas demand.

A business operator in St. Ann who has  been residing in Jamaica for close to 17 years is packing up to leave the country.

She says the financial challenges brought by Hurricane Melissa have led to that tough decision.

Clement Reid has the final in the series Hurricane Melissa: a year  later – a family heads back to India

The Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) has recommended that the Government should make the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme a permanent feature of its disaster relief mechanism.

CAPRI said this will ensure that relief is accelerated and deployed to the most vulnerable in the event of future disasters.

These and other recommendations were presented in the CAPRI report entitled ‘Higher Ground: Lessons from Hurricane Melissa for Resilience, Relief and Recovery’.

It was presented at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre in St. James on Wednesday.

The research identified several critical flaws in the country’s public service delivery and relief efforts, following Hurricane Melissa last year.

According to CAPRI’s research fellow, Aleem Mahabir, some specific relief programmes for affected citizens were only developed in the aftermath of the hurricane.

He argued that the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and pregnant women, should have been prioritised for relief support.

He expressed concern about the slow pace of disbursement of relief funds, due to a bureaucratic approval process.

Mr Mahabir said the data from the ROOFS programme should be linked to a database of vulnerable households going forward.