AUBYN Hill, the minister of industry, investment, and commerce, has made a sweeping call to private sector stakeholders to aid in rebuilding communities affected by Hurricane Beryl with an eye for more resilient structures.

The minister, a St Elizabeth native, invited members of Lydford Mining Company and Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE) to tour communities on July 10.

The contingent visited Yardley Chase — home to the famed Lovers Leap — Bellevue and the Potsdam-based Munro College.

The visiting engineers discussed options for alternative materials and localised solutions for residents to rebuild more resilient homes.

During the tour, Lydford Mining Chief Operating Officer Sam Millington pledged 30 truckloads of material from the company’s quarry and donated 50 tarpaulins. This initial donation will go to the Yardley Chase Neighbourhood Community Watch to assist local families and educational institutions ravaged by the storm.

Minister Hill said it is the first of many donations of materials, labour and monetary contributions from the mining and construction sector, especially after hearing the cost of repairs for his alma mater, Munro College — currently estimated at $300 million.

“When you hear about $300 million, you know the private sector has to be involved,” Hill said as he walked the severely damaged halls of the historic boarding school.

“All the big cement, steel, lumber and engineering suppliers, whether they went to Munro or not, we need help from them.”

Yushan Nelson, a member of JIE and a civil engineer at Peter Jervis & Associates, observed the extent of the damage at the school as well as the homes in Yardley Chase.

“What we are evaluating as we look at the wreckage, is the need to have engineers oversee the rebuilding of these communities and review the material and structural choices being made,” said Nelson. “Simple fixes like properly placed ventilation to prevent buckling, and installing rafter, ridge and other reinforcement hurricane strap ties in roof construction to resist wind uplift can make a significant difference without greatly increasing the cost of construction. This kind of professional involvement is not only about safeguarding homes but protecting lives.”

Millington expressed his desire to continue working with St Elizabeth residents, farmers and school administrators to implement engineering solutions for buildings in the area.

“Jamaica’s local engineers must lead the charge to rebuild the parishes affected by this hurricane,” said the son of the soil and homeowner in Yardley Chase.

The chemical engineer with over 30 years of experience in the minerals sector continued: “From developing cost-effective concrete materials for roofs to educating homeowners and local construction workers on the structural needs for homes along the hurricane belt, we have a lot to contribute and a lot of work to do. This is especially true in farming communities in St Elizabeth; these communities lie at the foundation of our food supply and need the assistance to ensure they can safely continue to live and operate in the area during the hurricane season.”

Munro College in St Elizabeth

One of the damaged buildings at Munro College in St Elizabeth