Climate-resilient housing not optional

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The vulnerability of Jamaica’s building stock to hurricanes in the order of a Category 5 hurricane was dramatically exposed in the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The impact was catastrophic for the most part, from storm surges demolishing concrete walls, rainfall-induced landslides reconfiguring hillsides and flooding plains, to the common assault of wooden roofs being blown away.

From my observation, many of the houses destroyed were clearly built without any appreciable resistance to any category of storm, let alone a Category 5 hurricane. It is my understanding that many of the wooden structures were built on land not owned by the occupants and, with that being the case, a more permanent installation, especially in the form of concrete walls or even firmly placed zinc roofs, was not considered economically justifiable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the root cause of deficient construction is a multi-faceted matter. It is not simply neglect of proper construction technology, but includes affordability and extends as well to a lack of enforcement of the building codes by local authorities, which, in many cases, are considered understaffed.

What is certain, from a logical point of view is that the efforts towards the reconstruction of Jamaica’s damaged building stock, must be aligned to proper building practice that affords climate-resilient structures. Climate change is real, and the predictions aligned to this phenomenon are that more frequent and progressively higher-intensity storms will become the norm in this region.

MINIMUM STANDARD

Jamaica’s 2020 Vision for housing states that all Jamaican households will have access to affordable, appropriate and legal housing options in liveable, vibrant, inclusive and aesthetically pleasing communities. With five years to go before 2030, and with the destruction that was occasioned by Hurricane Melissa, that hardly now seems possible. Also, Vision 2030 for Jamaica further highlights a goal of ‘safe, sanitary and affordable shelter for all citizens’. It therefore is imperative that means be found to enable our citizens to realise this goal we set for ourselves. It cannot be left to people to decide on the minimum standard of housing that they occupy.

The Government, through the relevant agencies, must see to it that, at the basic level, the buildings occupied by people are safe. Too many of our citizens are living in shacks and other unsafe shelters they call home. They would have to be evacuated at any hint of a storm if the occupants are to escape the risk of death. Our land and housing delivery systems have not kept abreast of the demand for decades. This has resulted in a housing crisis ahead of Hurricane Melissa. It is my hope that the ministries with responsibility for housing and land move rapidly to get people in a position to build or otherwise acquire safe housing ahead of the next hurricane, which is likely to be worse than Hurricane Melissa.

DAVID ALLEN

Civil engineer