The start of the new year sheds light on the Jamaican landscape that is undeniably different from the one we knew a year ago.

The destruction left by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa across the worst-hit parishes is visible in the impact on the infrastructure, on homes, and, for many, in the quiet anxieties of daily life. But as we step into this new year, we must make a collective decision to not let the devastation define us, but rather the reconstruction that lies ahead.

We are not the first people to face the daunting spectacle of nothingness after a storm has passed, nor will we be the last. History is replete with nations that have stared into the abyss of devastation and built pathways to a prosperous and resilient future.

Consider Europe following the catastrophe of World War II. It seemed the continent was broken beyond repair. Yet, through the Marshall Plan, they didn’t just patch up that which was broken, they modernised industries, rebuilt infrastructure, and laid the foundation for an economic renaissance.

Closer in time and to the nature of the calamity that descended on Jamaica, we look at New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The waters rose, the levees broke, and the city was brought to its knees. But the spirit of New Orleans was not submerged along with the physical assets. Through grit, cultural pride, and a relentless focus on rebuilding local businesses and the economy, they reclaimed their city.

These examples remind us that while the routine of life for many has changed and may in some instances seem to be irreparably damaged, the resilience of the Jamaican spirit remains untouched.

Resilience requires more than just hope, it requires a strategy. As we look to restore livelihoods — whether one is a farmer in St Elizabeth, a shopkeeper in Hanover, a tradesman in Westmoreland, a market vendor in Trelawny, or a tourism entrepreneur in St James — one must shift ones mindset from relying on handouts to valuing, grasping, and taking advantage of “hand-ups”.

There is a distinct difference. A handout, while sometimes necessary for immediate survival, can become a trap. If relied upon too long, it breeds dependency and, dare I say, mendicancy. It solves the hunger of today but does nothing to ensure sustainability and progress tomorrow.

In the book titled When Help hurts – Rethinking Relief Supplies after Disasters (2017), author Simon Levine examines how short-term help can do long-term harm. He makes this telling assertion: “After disasters, well-intentioned donors rush food, water and materials into affected communities. While essential for survival, these relief supplies can also undermine local markets and slow economic recovery if not coordinated with local systems.” In-kind aid can displace local farmers and vendors, suppress local prices, collapse markets, and breed dependency in once-sustainable communities.

Giving a hand-up is about dignity. It is about capital for small businesses to restock. It is about training programmes that help a displaced worker learn a new trade. It is the restoration of the community’s capacity to be economically viable and the ability of residents to earn a livelihood.

We need government policies, community actions, and private sector leadership that empower our people to launch out into the deep to catch fish rather than waiting for fish to wash up on the shore.

To every Jamaican feeling the weight of this task, let us remember that disaster often clears the ground for new opportunity and growth. We have a unique opportunity now to fix what was broken before the wind blew — to build businesses that are stronger, more efficient, and more attuned to the needs of not just those at the top but those at the base of the socio-economic pyramid.

We must revitalise the human spirit, not with empty optimism, but with the steel of determination. As the late Nelson Mandela famously said, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

And let us never forget the wisdom of our own National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey. In times like these his words ring true and with urgency: “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.”

Let 2026 be the year we confidently clear the rubble, starting in our minds, to dream again and reconstruct a Jamaica that is stronger, more prosperous, more resilient, and more inclusive than before.

Dr Henley Morgan, is founder and executive chairman of the Trench Town based social enterprise, Agency for Inner-city Renewal (AIR) and author of My Trench Town Journey: Lessons in Social Entrepreneurship and Community Transformation for Development Leaders, Policy Makers, Academics, and Practitioners. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or hwardmorgan+articles@gmail.com.

Henley Morgan