The outpouring of generosity from the Jamaican people following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa has been nothing short of godsent and deeply admirable.

Our innate spirit of community and compassion has filled a critical void, offering immediate solace and supplies to the most affected families over the past two weeks. Across the island an extraordinary groundswell of citizens, churches — especially the Seventh-day Adventist Church — community groups, and corporate partners has mobilised to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in dire need.

However, this generosity shines a harsh light on a troubling reality: the official government response remains mired in bureaucracy and delay. While private citizens and businesses have acted swiftly, often at personal expense, the machinery of Government has moved slowly — still “planning”, even as families sleep under tarpaulins. In this moment of national urgency governmental red tape works directly against the pressing need to get relief to the most shattered communities.

To bridge this gap and accelerate aid delivery we must implement an immediate, data-driven logistical overhaul rooted in community knowledge and executed with speed, transparency, and coordination.

The first step towards efficiency is leveraging existing community-based assets. It is surprising that the Social Development Commission (SDC) — an agency with detailed profiles of Jamaica’s roughly 800 communities — has not been placed at the centre of the relief effort. The SDC has the data, personnel, and local intelligence necessary to make aid delivery both equitable and efficient.

The blueprint must be built on three critical pillars:

1) Parish focal points: Each of the six most affected parishes must have a clearly identified focal point coordinating with local councillors, community development officers, and church-based response teams. While a hub-and-spoke model has been announced for 22 designated communities, reluctance to engage elected councillors remains. This must change. Councillors serve as the direct link to the people, understanding terrain, vulnerabilities, and local needs. Their inclusion ensures aid distribution is based on real-time information, not distant assumptions.

2) Central coordination centres: Each parish should have a central clearing house — a single coordination centre to register incoming donations, manage distribution schedules, and prevent duplication. This structure would guide volunteers and donors, ensuring care packages reach verified need areas and avoid oversupply in some districts while others remain underserved. A transparent tracking system — digital or paper-based — could be managed by parish disaster committees, supported by HEART/NSTA Trust interns.

3) Standardised care packages: To improve clarity, fairness, and efficiency, care packages must be categorised and standardised according to recovery phases. This ensures beneficiaries receive appropriate support based on immediate and medium-term needs.

a) Package 1 — Emergency relief: Designed for survival and immediate comfort, including:

• non-perishable foods (canned goods, dry cereals, rice, flour, sugar, crackers, and ready-to-eat meals)

• water (minimum 5 liters per person per day)

• toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins, toilet paper, disinfectant wipes, deodorant)

• clothing (undergarments, T-shirts, sleepwear, children’s clothes, slippers)

• medical and hygiene essentials (first-aid kits, pain relievers, masks, gloves, hand sanitisers)

b)Package 2 — Immediate shelter and home repair: Aimed at restoring basic living conditions and preventing further exposure, contents may include:

• construction materials (tarpaulins, blocks, cement, steel, plywood, zinc sheets, 2×4 boards, nails, hurricane straps)

• tools (hammers, saws, measuring tape, gloves)

• lighting (solar lamps or rechargeable flashlights)

• bedding (mattresses, sheets, blankets)

c) Package 3 — Livelihood restart: Focused on restoring economic independence, varying by occupation:

• farmers: seeds, fertiliser, small tools, animal feed, water drums

• small business owners: small generators, vouchers or starter kits to replace tools, stock, or equipment

• fisherfolk: nets, ropes, safety gear

These packages are not charity, they are investments in recovery and resilience.

Hurricane Melissa’s destruction offers a tragic but necessary turning point in Jamaica’s housing and settlement planning. The time has come to move beyond emergency repairs towards building stronger, more resilient communities.

This requires tough but compassionate decisions on landownership. Many destroyed wooden dwellings were semi-permanent structures on informal or unsettled land tenure. Without addressing this, new housing investments will remain insecure. The Government must prioritise regularising land ownership and implementing policies that ensure both legal security and structural soundness.

To guarantee genuine resilience, climate-smart construction must become a national standard. All buildings should begin with respect for the natural environment. Three priority actions are essential:

1) Universal approval and inspection: All housing construction, including temporary repairs, must undergo municipal approval and inspection. Certified contractors, paid by the State, should inspect every roof installation for compliance with wind-resistance standards to prevent failures and save lives.

2) Resilient construction standards: Traditional lightweight housing is no longer viable. Jamaica must adopt best practices:

• reinforced structures with hurricane straps, anchor bolts, and continuous load paths connecting roof, walls, and foundations

• elevated foundations in flood-prone and coastal areas to reduce water damage

• wind-rated materials certified to withstand Category 4 or 5 hurricanes

3) Prioritising infrastructure: Resilient homes are futile without adequate infrastructure. A national drain rehabilitation and maintenance programme must be immediately funded and implemented. Proper drainage, road networks, and water management are vital to protect lives and property.

We cannot afford to rebuild past vulnerabilities. The Jamaican spirit has shown its generosity and resilience; now the Government must show resolve. By streamlining logistics through local expertise, standardising care responses, and enforcing climate-resilient building standards, Jamaica can transform this tragedy into a blueprint for safety, strength, and sustainability.

The choice is clear: Rebuild as before — or rebuild for the future.

Denworth Finnikin is a university lecturer. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or denworth.finnikin@gmail.com.

Hurricane Melissa’s destruction offers a tragic but necessary turning point in Jamaica’s housing and settlement planning.