Give priority to the issue of shelters
Published:Wednesday | December 24, 2025 | 12:12 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Given the current disruptions to the schools that are still facilitating Hurricane Melissa victims, permanent and practical solutions must be found. In this era of climate challenges and climate change, and given that Jamaica will likely affected by future hurricanes, priority ought to be given to shelters.
Hopefully, no future hurricane that makes landfall in the island or that comes close to Jamaica’s coastline will be as bad as Hurricane Melissa was.
Within each parish, permanent shelters that are specially engineered to withstand Category 4 and 5 hurricanes could be built – by the Government of Jamaica and/or by private individuals. Regarding the latter, perhaps a rental or lease arrangement between such individuals and the Government could be worked out if and/or when necessary.
During the non-hurricane season, and once they are properly managed and maintained, those shelters could be used to host local and/or international conferences, events of various kinds, and even as Airbnb facilities.
PATRICK GALLIMORE