FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is preparing to submit a comprehensive restoration and resilience plan for the historic town of Falmouth.

The plan should be ready by the end of January, marking a critical milestone in the town’s recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.

It will outline funding requirements and implementation strategies and will be submitted to the PAJ board and the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development for approval and policy direction.

“The goals and objectives of the recovery and rebuilding process will be clearly outlined and will focus on restoring essential services, protecting cultural and heritage sites, supporting economic recovery, and increasing resilience against future hurricanes.

“Setting measurable objectives will help monitor and measure progress and ensure accountability throughout the implementation phases,” the PAJ said in response to queries from the Jamaica Observer about its role in the town’s recovery.

“On completion, the plan, including the resource requirements from the PAJ and from the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) will be reviewed by PAJ’s board and the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development for decision making,” the State agency added.

Discussions on critical community infrastructure, including the Falmouth Market, have already begun, with further technical recommendations to be addressed when the full workplan is presented to national and local authorities.

Once approved, the plan is expected to guide one of the most significant reconstruction efforts in Falmouth’s modern history, reshaping the historic port town into a stronger, more resilient economic and cultural hub.

During a second visit to Falmouth in the aftermath of the hurricane on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie hailed the PAJ which he said he met alongside Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) and other tourism interest groups.

“I want to say thank you in advance to the Port Authority, because they have offered their conference room and office across the port for the mayor to occupy to operate out of and for the council to have its regular meetings, using the facilities over the port. And I want to thank them, because this is a relationship that is really needed,” McKenzie said then.

“I also had discussions with them today around the repairs to the Falmouth Market, and they have accepted and will be meeting shortly to discuss the necessary works that needs to be done to upgrade the Falmouth Market and to deal with the issues of Melissa,” he added.

The Category 5 hurricane left much of the heritage port town in ruins, with key public institutions including the municipal building, hospital, courthouse and fire station either destroyed or severely damaged. Widespread flooding from storm surges forced evacuation of Falmouth Hospital, while damage to heritage landmarks such as William Knibb Baptist Church and Anglican Parish Church raised concerns about long-term preservation of the town’s cultural identity.

In the immediate aftermath, PAJ mobilised engineering and logistics resources at the direction of the Government of Jamaica, reopening the harbour to marine traffic by November 3 following hydrology surveys and underwater inspections. The port’s resilience allowed it to receive relief cargo and enabled the rapid restart of cruise operations, which resumed on December 2 with a call from
Caribbean Princess.

Simultaneously, PAJ, working alongside TPDCo, led extensive clean up and restoration efforts in the town centre to resume commerce, revive tourism and stabilise livelihoods.

As emergency recovery transitioned into long-term planning, the PAJ commissioned a team of international and local consultants to develop a strategic rebuilding framework aligned with national development priorities. Extensive damage assessments, infrastructure reviews and stakeholder consultations have shaped a recovery blueprint that focuses on restoring essential services, safeguarding heritage assets, strengthening economic activity and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

A section of the Hurricane Melissa-ravaged Trelawny Infirmary. (Photo: Horace Hines)