Prime Minister Andrew Holness has directed Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, Chief of the Defence Staff, to mobilise the Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Disaster Assistance and Recovery (DART) teams to spearhead home reconstruction efforts in some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Beryl.
DART will be supported by other support units, including engineering units, who will target areas such as Portland Cottage and Rocky Point in Clarendon on Jamaica’s south coast that were hardest hit by the hurricane, with homes in some communities destroyed.
“They will also be deployed to Hanover to assist with the recovery efforts, particularly in the town of Negril and areas around Westmoreland,” Holness said in a speech in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The First Minister, who is responsible for housing, explained that the deployment of SDF personnel to South East Clarendon will also spill over into the Manchester and St Elizabeth areas.
“This effort is not just about rebuilding, it’s about rebuilding stronger, more durable homes that can withstand future storms,” Holness said.
“Our efforts will focus on durability and sustainability,” he added.
“We don’t want to build makeshift structures or repair roofs that leave us vulnerable to the next storm.”
The prime minister said the government was considering using drone technology to more quickly assess damage to homes. He stressed that the government could not provide assistance to everyone who had lost their homes, but said it would work to ensure the process was transparent and fair.
