As relief efforts continue for southwestern parishes, one young professional is suggesting standardised community relief zones (SCRZs) for donations to alleviate gridlock traffic.

“I am aware that authorities have utilised air traffic support to quicken relief efforts, an essential first step given the road blockages,” Daineroy Allen, a management consultant, stakeholder engagement and interagency liaison, who is also a compliance and risk management specialist, told Jamaica Observer.

“However, that air effort needs a functional ground partner. My proposal for standardised community relief zones (SCRZs) is a practical solution to fix what we call the ‘bottleneck effect’ and last-mile distribution issues on the ground,” he continued, adding “The SCRZs are designed to create a consistent, predictable relief hub in each affected parish. This makes it easier for everyone from a resident walking for supplies; to an international organisation bringing a truckload of aid to know exactly where to go and what to expect. This standardisation is key to moving from emergency chaos to an orderly, effective recovery.”

Allen, who is also the COO of Narro Ventures in Canada, said that he has submitted a proposal to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie, as well as other personnel. He has yet to receive any feedback, but is hopeful that once relief activities are more stabilised, he will receive the green light.

In the meantime, Allen reasoned that the SCRZs will foster accessibility, structured flow, and overall be proved effective.

“The effectiveness comes from standardisation. Since every zone looks and operates the same way, we can train people faster, deploy national assets quicker, and allow international aid teams to plug their resources directly into a proven model without wasting time figuring out a new system in every town. It brings order, speed, and safety to the relief process,” he added.

In terms of relief efforts, Allen, who is based in Manchester, believes that further efficiency can be achieved if more young professionals take the initiative to reach out to add their academic and theoretical learning to gain practical experience during this time.

Should his proposal be approved, Allen foresees the SCRZs being incorporated as quickly as possible.

“I would like to see it implemented in phases as soon as possible, seen that various organisations are on the ground that would be an asset to this initiative. We are moving past the immediate crisis, and the reality is that the recovery and rebuilding process will extend into years,” Allen said.

“This long-term commitment requires us to immediately transition from emergency delivery to a structured system that localizes everything. We must leverage the operational presence of existing relief groups, our valuable partners to execute a rapid, phased rollout that minimizes delays and helps us achieve community stabilisation for the long road ahead,” he added.