Howard Beckford | Urgent need to decentralise post Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa did more than devastate homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods across Jamaica. It exposed a weakness we have ignored for far too long. Our highly centralised system of government cannot keep pace with the principles of sustainable development or the effects of climate change.

When a nation faces increasing frequency and rising intensity of natural disasters (like Melissa) that can reshape entire parishes in hours. We cannot depend on a decision-making model that still funnels everything through Kingston. Especially, a centralised decision-making model that eliminates bottom-up participation in governance decisions influencing basic needs and quality of life.

Jamaica has 14 parishes, each with its own unique history, human and environmental interactions, economic profile, and public services. Yet all major decisions that determine the quality of life, livelihood, and the management of the natural environment around communities are made in Kingston. Local authorities and local people have no participation in influencing this decision. Therefore, these decisions are always inadequate and keep Jamaica in poverty. This centralised structure is slow, rigid, and increasingly mismatched to the challenges of climate change and changing cultural, social, economic, and political elements that influence how humans interact with and shape their environment.

MISMATCH

Hurricane Melissa proved this mismatched unmistakably. While communities were being swallowed by floodwater, washed-out roads, and blocked river channels, many parish authorities were still waiting for central approval to deploy equipment, redirect resources, or issue emergency directives. A system that forces local leaders to seek permission while their communities are drowning cannot be called efficient or responsive. The lesson is simple: Jamaica must decentralise – not as a political talking point, but as a climate change -survival strategy. For instance, local authorities could contribute to decision-making by providing insights into the unique challenges and opportunities of their respective parishes, and communities could participate by voicing their needs and concerns, thereby ensuring that decisions are more comprehensive and effective.

The case for parish-level authority: Decentralisation is not about weakening the central government It is about strengthening Jamaica by empowering every parish to act effectively and efficiently, because the governance is closer to both the people and environmental aspects, and hence possess the best understanding of its own (physical and human) terrain. Most importantly, they have more participation over decisions that affect their lives; therefore, they will feel a sense of responsibility for their livelihood outcomes.

Ever wonder why the Maroons have food security and a low crime rate? – governance close to the people. St James and Hanover cannot manage storm surge risks in the same way that Clarendon or St Catherine manage riverine flooding. Manchester’s hillside communities cannot apply the exact solutions that Portland use for coastal erosion. The idea that a single central office can engineer solutions for all fourteen parishes is unrealistic and outdated. But with decentralization, we can unlock the potential of each parish, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility that can lead to a brighter, more resilient future for Jamaica. Every parish should have absolute control over land-use decisions, disaster planning, and infrastructure maintenance – supported, but not controlled, by the city of Kingston.

Faster disaster response saves lives: Countries that manage natural disasters well – such as Japan, Chile, and Canada — give substantial authority to subnational governments. Jamaica cannot remain an exception. In a catastrophe, minutes matter. Centralised systems lose those minutes due to communication delays and multiple layers of approval. A decentralised system would allow each parish to operate a complete disaster-response unit capable of deploying equipment without waiting for Kingston, issuing local evacuation orders.

A new fiscal reality for local government: It is time to rethink the financial structure of our local governments. Decentralisation is often dismissed with the argument that “parishes don’t have money”. But this is because they are not allowed to keep much of the money they generate. A modern Jamaican decentralisation model would let parishes retain a significantly larger share of: Taxes collected. Additionally, each parish should receive a predictable annual allocation, and an equalisation fund should support smaller or rural parishes with lower revenue capacity. This is not a radical idea – it is standard practice in countries with strong prosperous local governance systems tailored to local realities.

Why this matters now: If we continue to depend on a single decision-making centre for a Nation as geographically varied as ours, we will repeat the painful losses of Hurricane Melissa – again. We must shift from a “one-size-fits-all” governance model to a “parish or county-driven” model. This means: Parish control over land management and land use planning; Parish authority in disaster response; Parish-managed development projects application and zoning; Parish-level engineering and environmental enforcement. Central government still plays a vital role – but as a national coordinator, standard-setter, and guarantor of equity. Not as the micromanager of every culvert, subdivision, or flood channel. This reassurance should give you confidence in the proposed changes.

Decentralisation will not solve all our problems – but without it, we cannot solve the most dangerous ones. If Jamaica is serious about climate resilience, adaptation, sustainable development, and the prosperity of its people, decentralisation must start now.

Howard C Beckford is an agricultural engineer. He is a retired assistant criminal division manager in the New Jersey Judiciary. Send feedback to hbecky8289@gmail.com