Dear Editor,

Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica with a national crisis of immense proportions. Thousands of families are displaced, and the reconstruction effort will take years. In this moment of trauma, trust in leadership is essential.

The Community Organization for Management and Sustainable Development (COMAND) urges both the Government and the wider society to approach this recovery with caution, transparency, and unity.

The Government already faces a significant trust deficit. Jamaicans are understandably anxious about how relief resources will be managed. Any hint of secrecy or defensiveness at this time will only deepen public suspicion and weaken international confidence.

When Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness recently dismissed concerns about relief funds as “careless talk”, the intention may have been to protect the process. But public scolding will not calm a nation already shaken by disaster. People need inclusion and clarity, not reprimand.

Civil society and the Opposition must likewise avoid unfounded accusations. But the Government must recognise that accountability is strengthened by openness, not by confrontation. Transparency cannot be demanded; it must be practised.

COMAND is calling for a broad-based national coalition to oversee the rebuilding effort. This coalition should include representatives from the Government, Opposition, private sector, civil society, community organisations, and independent experts. Diaspora observers may also play a role.

This approach mirrors successful models like the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, whereby multi-stakeholder oversight has produced trust and credibility over time.

The recovery effort must be structured so that it not only is honest but also appears honest to Jamaicans and international partners. Billions of dollars will pass through government systems. Donors and Diaspora supporters will only contribute confidently if they see independent oversight, clear reporting, and strong anti-corruption protections.

Rebuilding after Melissa must focus on the people who suffered most. Communities should have a real voice in decisions about housing, infrastructure, and resilience. The country cannot simply rebuild what existed before; it must build better, safer, and more equitable systems.

This is not a moment for confrontation. It is a moment for national leadership that unites the country and strengthens democratic trust. Hurricane Melissa did not strike along party lines. Our response must also transcend party interests.

COMAND stands ready to participate in a national, transparent, and people-centred recovery effort. We urge the prime minister to take the decisive step of bringing the country together, demonstrating to Jamaica and the world that our reconstruction will be governed by integrity, collaboration, and fairness.

Only then can we truly build back — not just stronger, but together.

COMAND