KINGSTON, Jamaica — Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon has announced that schools in areas of Kingston that were not badly affected by Hurricane Melissa are expected to reopen on Monday.

She provided the update during a media conference on Thursday.

“But a lot of our schools do not have electricity and they do not have water,” said Minister Dixon, noting that while some institutions in Kingston fared relatively well, others across the island remain without essential services.

She explained that assessments are ongoing and an emergency plan is being developed to address the situation in the hardest-hit parishes.

“We are doing the assessments and we are looking at an emergency plan. I have asked Senator Marlon Morgan to work primarily on this emergency plan because we are going to have to have a plan for our children in Westmoreland, Hanover, St Elizabeth [and] St James, and so we are working through that,” she said.

Dr Dixon emphasised that immediate efforts remain focused on humanitarian needs.

“Right now it is about getting food to individuals, getting those who may be injured assistance. It is not the time really for those concerns but we are starting to think about it and we will give you updates at the appropriate time,” she said.