Not business as usual, McKenzie warns builders

As Jamaica moves into the reconstruction phase following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa last October, the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, has warned that it will not be business as usual when it comes to construction.

Jamaica suffered damage and losses from the hurricane estimated at $1.952 trillion, equivalent to 56.7 per cent of the country’s 2024 gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

The impact was particularly severe for housing, both residential and commercial, with several communities in Westmoreland suffering significant losses.

The destruction has spurred the development of a new building code to guide future construction, requiring buildings to be able to withstand Category-5 hurricanes, similar to the force of Hurricane Melissa.

Making his presentation to the sectoral debate on Wednesday in Gordon House, McKenzie said reckless and dangerous practices would no longer be tolerated as the country enters the reconstruction phase.

“Madam Speaker, I want to emphasise that the reconstruction phase is not designed to restore what has been lost. It is to replace lost infrastructure with vastly modern, climate-smart and resilient structures that dramatically improve the lives of our citizens.

“However, there also has to be a clear understanding and acceptance among our nationally and parochially elected representatives, as well as the general public, that it will not be business as usual.”

“Longstanding reckless and dangerous practices will have to be replaced with order as the new normal in the built environment. I am therefore calling for practicality, courage and consensus among all concerned, as we work together to change living standards through the built environment.”

ENFORCEMENT

To ensure that buildings are constructed according to specification, the roles of ministries, agencies and local authorities in the development approval process have taken on greater importance.

Municipal corporations will be granted stronger enforcement powers, mandatory compliance checks and stricter penalties for illegal construction in high-risk zones.

Meanwhile, there are signs that rebuilding efforts are accelerating, McKenzie said, citing the number of building applications received in the first quarter of 2026.

According to McKenzie, between January and March this year, 1,377 applications valued at $68.8 billion were submitted.

“The records show that this number of applications far exceeds total applications received for all quarters, dating back to the April to June quarter of 2023. This level of activity shows that people are working quickly to rebuild,” he said.

By comparison, between January and September 2025, the nine months preceding the hurricane, 3,764 applications were submitted, with a value of $46.1 billion.

McKenzie also paid tribute to workers at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) for the role it played “in moving Jamaica from the Recovery Phase to the Reconstruction Phase”, describing its contribution as “essential”.

“This agency was active on the ground immediately after Hurricane Melissa and was the first to clear town centres, roads and pathways, and to free marooned communities through the National Clean Up Programme.

“I pay special tribute to the workers of the NSWMA, some of whom had their homes damaged by the hurricane, and who turned out nonetheless to provide unstinting service.”

He also commended the agency and the Ministry of Health and Wellness for providing trauma counselling to these workers.

“In the rush to deal with disaster, we sometimes forget the mental impact on front-line workers and first responders.”

McKenzie said the workers had been fully exposed to the sights, sounds and smells of destruction, as well as the deaths of nearly 50 Jamaicans who lost their lives as a result of the hurricane.

carl.gilchrist@gleanerjm.com