Jamaica Disaster Response Earns Global Praise

Press Release From The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development - November 26, 2025

Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, says the World Bank has commended Jamaica for its swift national response following Hurricane Melissa, crediting a proactive contracting strategy that has drawn international recognition.

Speaking yesterday (November 25, 2025) at a seminar hosted by the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ),  Minister Morgan revealed that Jamaica’s practice of engaging contractors before disaster strikes,  a system that is considered routine locally, has been acknowledged as innovative and effective by global partners.

This approach, he said, enabled the country to clear 85% of blocked roads within four to five days after the hurricane, a feat that surprised international observers.

“We tend to be very hard on ourselves.  While we are in the war, we’re just trying to survive. It often takes someone from the outside to say, you’re doing a good job”, the Minister stated.

Minister Morgan further emphasised that the rapid recovery was not the work of government agencies alone, but a collaborative effort involving local contractors, community members, and a large contingent drawn from organisations such as the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ).

He echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiment that “there is no victory in relief” as long as any Jamaican remains in distress. However, he stressed the importance of learning from best practices,  particularly the forward-contracting methodology that allowed contractors to pre-position equipment before the storm.

The Minister added that despite setbacks, including equipment lost to flooding and displaced operators, the national network allowed for swift redeployment of resources across parishes.

“We were able to call on contractors from Clarendon, from St. Thomas, from Kingston, from St Ann to say, our contractors in Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth are not able to function.  Can you send down some trucks”, citing the Catherine Hall clean-up in Montego Bay as an example.

“A lot of the trucks that were cleaning Catherine Hall were not from Montego Bay because a lot of the trucks in Montego Bay were flooded and in some cases the water rose 10 feet. So you had to call people in Kingston who had back hoes, trucks and so on”.

Minister Morgan signaled that Jamaica’s pre-disaster contracting model could become an international export, offering a blueprint for resilience across vulnerable regions.

As he addressed the IMAJ seminar, the Minister  underscored the vital role of clear, fair, and well-managed contracts in disaster recovery and national infrastructure development:

“It’s not just about paying for work. It’s about building trust, reducing disputes, improving timelines, and ensuring that every Jamaican benefits from properly executed works”, the Minister stated

He concluded by reiterating that strong contracting processes, supported by both local experience and international partners,  are key to building a stronger, faster, and more resilient Jamaica.

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