Minister of Labour and Social Security,  Pearnel Charles Jr., has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to an inclusive and resilient national recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, as he addressed stakeholders at the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Conference yesterday morning at the S Hotel.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Government and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister Charles Jr underscored the unprecedented scale of the disaster, noting that the hurricane which struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, caused damage exceeding half of the country’s gross domestic product.

“Entire communities were disrupted, homes were lost, and livelihoods placed at risk,” the Minister stated. “Yet, in the face of this devastation, the Jamaican people did not break. They held and they continue to hold.”

The Conference marks a critical transition from emergency response to long-term recovery and resilience-building. Minister Charles Jr emphasised that recovery must extend beyond infrastructure to restoring lives in a deliberate, equitable, and sustainable manner.

Central to this effort is the Ministry’s targeted social protection response, anchored in the National Shelter Recovery Programme and the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters, ROOFS programme.

To date, more than 114,000 assessments have been conducted across affected communities, with over JMD $9.49 billion disbursed directly to impacted households. 

“These are not just figures they represent real people,” Minister Charles Jr noted, pointing to vulnerable groups including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income households who remain at the forefront of recovery efforts.

The Minister highlighted the importance of coordinated national and international action, citing the role of the Jamaica Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in advancing a unified recovery framework.

 “This Conference represents alignment and alignment saves lives,” he said, stressing the value of shared responsibility and collective impact in addressing complex recovery challenges.

Looking ahead, Minister Charles Jr made it clear that rebuilding efforts will prioritise resilience, including stronger construction standards, integrated disaster risk reduction measures, and expanded community preparedness. 

“Recovery must not recreate vulnerability,” he stated. “Resilience is the difference between a community that shatters in the next storm, and one that bends and stands back up.”

The Minister also issued a direct appeal to international partners for sustained engagement, urging continued financial and technical support to ensure long-term, durable recovery outcomes.  “Jamaica has built the systems, the frameworks, and the political will to manage this recovery with integrity,” he said. “What we now need is sustained commitment not only in this moment, but in the months and years ahead.”

Reflecting on his visits to the hardest-hit communities, Minister Charles Jr reaffirmed that the recovery effort is grounded in the lived realities of the Jamaican people.

“Hurricane Melissa tested Jamaica our systems, our communities, and our resolve,” he said. “But it also revealed our strength, the power of genuine partnership, and our capacity to respond with purpose.”

He concluded with a message of determination: “We are not defined by the storm. We are defined by how we respond to it. Jamaica will rebuild, recover, and emerge stronger, fairer, and more resilient than before.”