Critical infrastructure must be rebuilt in secure locations, says PM Holness

 

 

 

As Jamaica closes out its recovery stage post Hurricane Melissa, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says critical infrastructure such as hospitals must be reconstructed in secure and uncompromised spaces.

 

He says three major hospitals are inconveniently stationed on the coast where brunt force wind and flash floods often emerge. 

 

He referenced Black River Hospital which was left roofless after Hurricane Melissa swept away its covering.

 

Dr. Holness contended that the government must be strategic as it rebuilds to ensure critical services are not disrupted in the face of disasters.

 

"We really wouldn't want your hospital to be in a place where it is going to be so exposed. That will break your ability to continue to give service to people, right? So if we were building the hospital now we would build it in a more secure location. So if the hospital is destroyed, why go back and build the hospital there? And there are a few hospitals like that. One of them, as I mentioned, Black River, Noel Holmes and the Falmouth Hospital, again very close to the sea near the shore and in a low lying area. So we have to figure out where we're going to move these hospitals and put them," he said, stressing that they must relocated to more secure locations.

 

The Prime Minister said all critical service buildings will also be reconstructed to align with modern building standards that can withstand the recent episodic and intense weather events.

 

"We're going to build it such that if there is another super-phenomenal event, another extreme event like Hurricane Melissa, the facility will not be damaged and the facility will be able to continue service. Though it did not stop the continuity of government - government was able to respond quickly - in some areas there was a break in continuity. The police station was totally destroyed in Black River but the policemen were there. The hospital totally gone but the nurses and doctors were there. They were able to give some service but not to the level of service that you would require for a disaster. And so when we build again in the reconstruction phase we're going to make sure that if we have another disaster, your health care, security, your fire, your local government, those critical buildings will be maintained so that you will have continuity of service and continuity of government if there is any failure," Dr. Holness asserted.

 

He was speaking at the Jamaican Diaspora Town Hall in St. Kitts and Nevis.