Gov't sets aim to build resilient schools following hurricane impact

 

In the wake of the damage sustained by some of Jamaica's schools during the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the government is to review the construction of schools to withstand the impact of powerful hurricanes in the future. 

 

A number of schools in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, Hanover, St. James and Trelawny sustained significant damage during the passage of the storm, which ravaged the island. 

 

Speaking in the Senate on Friday afternoon, Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon argued that the island's schools are not built to withstand a Category 5 storm. 

 

"Mr. President, last year we had Hurricane Beryl and we had a huge repair bill in the billions. We repaired the schools. This year we have Hurricane Melissa and some of those same schools got hit again. And remember our schools also act as shelters. And so it's important that our schools are robust in their construction because they are what the community relies on in the face of a disaster. And so Mr. President, we are going to be focused on resilient infrastructure," she promised. 

 

"So we're looking at new design. We have a new building standard for schools. We're also going to be building in resilience into our schools. And we're going to have to be looking at generators, more water tanks and water treatment facilities for our schools and, of course, potentially looking at other sources of internet," added the Education Minister.  

 

More than 600 educational institutions were damaged during the storm. 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Morris Dixon said the country continues to receive strong support from overseas organisations in its relief and recovery effort. 

 

She said members of World Central Kitchen have been providing thousands of hot meals daily to Jamaicans devastated by the storm. 

 

"Their teams are on the ground and working in affected communities and they've been doing fantastic work. I know as I drive around Westmoreland and even in Trelawny, I've been seeing a lot of World Central Kitchen there, and they've provided over one million hot meals, one million hot meals," she stressed. 

 

Senator Morris Dixon said she spoke with the founder of the non-profit organisation, Chef José Andrés, who promised: "No matter what you want and as long as I need to help, I will do so."

 

"And we thank all those who have opened their heart to Jamaica," she said. 

 

 

 

In the meantime, Senator Morris Dixon said the government continues to hold talks with the management of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), insisting that the company provides the specific timelines for the restoration of electricity to communities that are still without power. 

 

Residents and communities across the island have challenged the recent announcement by the JPS that power has been restored to 70% of customers following the storm. 

 

Dr. Morris Dixon said the government understands the frustration by residents still in the dark. 

 

Citing a recent meeting with principals of schools in the west that have been been severely impacted by the hurricane, the Information Minister recalled "the commotion" after a JPS representative pointed out that power has been restored to 70% of its customers. 

 

"I had to go up to him and say, you're in a room where 100% of them don't have electricity. And so it is very important. Your point is important that we talk about areas. I know the JPS has met with the communities in Westmoreland and did some engagement and gave some indicative timelines. And we're happy they're actually going faster than those indicative timelines because we saw Negril come back to power last night," he highlighted.