KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is moving from disaster relief to long-term recovery following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, with a focus on repairing roofs and improving waste management for 2026.

In an update shared via X, Holness said the response to the hurricane has been both strategic and compassionate, emphasising efficiency and accountability as central to the Government’s approach.

Holness announced that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is now leading the national Roof Repair Programme, marking a transition from immediate relief operations to rebuilding and restoration.

“We have already started what we call the Roof Repair Programme. The JDF is leading that,” he said, noting that he had directed the team weeks earlier to shift its focus to restoration efforts.

Engineering teams from Guyana are also supporting the initiative. According to Holness, Guyanese engineers have been assigned to communities including Whitehouse and Bluefields in Westmoreland, where approximately 30 houses have already been restored. Other teams are working in Middle Quarters and parts of St Elizabeth, while the JDF has begun repairs in Accompong.

The programme is prioritising the most vulnerable households.

“The strategy is we’re going to look for the most vulnerable people who can’t repair their roofs themselves. They are not working, they’re elderly, they are shut in,” Holness said.

The prime minister reported that more than 40,000 damage assessments have already been completed, with a target of reaching up to 90,000. Beginning in January, the Government plans to issue grants to households that have been assessed.

“Clearly, we won’t be able to give everyone, but certainly everyone who we have assessed as being in need and come to our attention, and we have the resources, we will give grants,” Holness said.

He stressed that the grants are intended to assist with repairs, not necessarily to fully rebuild homes in every case.

“This is a government saying, ‘Here is something for you to start, to help you, to assist,” he said.

Holness also argued that the injection of funds into households would stimulate economic activity by creating jobs for carpenters, masons and other tradespeople.

“A good economy helps everyone,” he said. “Putting this money into the hands of people, providing that they use it wisely, will help to generate economic activity.”

He emphasised that strong systems are being put in place to ensure transparency in the distribution of grants.

“We have been putting in place all the necessary systems so that when we give the money, we can track it, meaning that we know who got it and the assessed purpose for which they got the money,” he said, adding that accountability is essential to maintain public trust.

Holness also addressed the performance of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), noting that while the agency has improved its governance and no longer poses a fiscal risk to the Government, public concern remains focused on garbage collection.

He explained that while good management is essential, improved service also requires greater resources. The Government has provided the NSWMA with 100 new garbage trucks and tippers, but Holness acknowledged that far more are needed to have a major impact on regular collection.

As part of a broader reform, the Government plans to expand private-sector involvement in waste collection.

“It’s always more efficient for the private sector to maintain trucks than it is for the Government,” Holness said, noting procurement delays and maintenance challenges within the public sector.

He also called for stronger public education on waste disposal and personal responsibility, describing littering as “shameful” and harmful to the environment.

“All of these things end up in the gullies, block the gullies and flood areas,” he said, warning of the long-term consequences of improper waste disposal.

The prime minister revealed that the Government is working toward implementing a digital ticketing system for sanitation violations, similar to traffic tickets, which would allow offenders to be taken to court.

“Everybody wants to see Jamaica clean, but nobody wants to do it,” Holness said.