MONTEGO BAY, St James — Principal of Montego Bay Community College (MBCC) Dr Darien Henry has warned that a considerable amount of money will be needed to restore the college’s campuses in Montego Bay and Frome, Westmoreland, following Hurricane Melissa.

“My college has been severely displaced and devastated as a result of the hurricane,” Henry told the
Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

He said MBCC’s main campus on Alice Eldemire Drive in Montego Bay suffered widespread and multi-layered damage with classrooms, laboratories, administrative spaces, and critical support areas impacted.

“The registry building, which houses the principal’s and vice-principals’ offices, has severe roof failure and water intrusion,” said Henry.

“The auditorium — which connects 83 classrooms and labs — is significantly damaged, and the lecture theatre also has major roofing loss,” added Henry.

He said the student services area, air-conditioning systems, and fibre optic connections are down, while the classrooms blocks A, B, and C sustained significant electrical damage.

According to Henry, several classrooms were flooded, particularly on Block C, with signs of sewage contamination requiring professional sanitisation before reoccupation.

“The college field is waterlogged, entrances are blocked by silt, while perimeter fencing and drainage systems have been destroyed,” said Henry.

He told the Observer that the Frome campus suffered even more damage.

“The administrative block lost its roof, two classrooms and two computer labs were severely damaged, and the staff room and guidance counselling offices also sustained roofing failure,” Henry pointed out.

“Based on the scale and magnitude of the impact that the hurricane has caused on both our campuses, it will take us sometime yet for us to get back up and running,” Henry added.

The MBCC principal said the immediate priorities include emergency roofing, structural stabilisation, detailed technical assessments, and environmental decontamination.

“Major clean-up and deep sanitisation will be essential,” said Henry, who also chairs the Llandillo Special School of Special Education in Westmoreland.

He said that institution also lost several roofs and will need major repair.

“For the school system in western Jamaica to be back up and running, at least in the short to medium term, a considerable amount of resources will have to be expended to get the infrastructure, not only at MBCC, but throughout the school network as well,” Henry said.

He pointed out that many students, and school staff members, have also been severely affected by Melissa.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, in a statement in Parliament, noted that while assessments are still under way in the education sector many schools, especially in the western parishes, have been severely damaged or destroyed, and others across the island have also been affected.

According to Holness, at present, 446 schools serving nearly 150,000 students face major disruption.

“The situation in western Jamaica is particularly grave and poses a real risk of significant learning loss. Our children need their classrooms and the structure they provide. Every day out of school is a day of lost opportunity,” said Holness as he argued that the nation must also be pragmatic.

“The doors of many schools cannot reopen immediately. So, while we move with urgency to repair and rebuild, we must act now to resume learning through innovative and flexible arrangements so that no child is left behind,” added Holness.

The prime minister pointed out that after Hurricane Beryl in 2024, the Government responded swiftly, aided by the timing of the summer break.

“This time, we must move even faster, as Hurricane Melissa offers no such reprieve. Our focus will therefore be on three clear priorities — safe reopening where facilities permit; continuity of learning through blended, remote, and alternative sites where needed; and accelerated reconstruction to return students to permanent classrooms as soon as possible,” added Holness.

Inside one of the many damaged offices at Montego Bay Community College following Hurricane Melissa. (Photo: Horace Hines)

HENRY… my college has been severely displaced and devastated as a result of the hurricane