Western Hanover MP Heatha Miller-Bennett has raised concerns about the closure of several hotels damaged by Hurricane Melissa, warning that the job losses are taking a heavy economic and psychological toll on residents who depend on tourism for work. Speaking at the Hanover Municipal Corporation meeting, she argued that food packages are not enough and urged a more sustainable plan to support unemployed workers, cautioning that prolonged idleness could fuel social problems.

Domestic disputes rising simultaneously with unemployment in Hanover, says police commander

‘The tourism industry and workers within that industry is an issue that we have to be very vocal about. Many of the persons within this constituency are dependent on tourism.’

Jamaica Gleaner/10 Jan 2026/Bryan Miller/gleaner Writer editorial@gleanerjm.com

According to Nish, while the parish is fresh off celebrating a 40 per cent reduction in major crimes and a 73 per cent overall clear-up rate for 2025 when compared to 2024, he is concerned about the number of young people in communities like Green Island, who are sitting at home, having been left jobless because of the passage of the hurricane.

“We do acknowledge the rise in cases of domestic disputes, and we are giving it the requisite attention,” said Nish, who was addressing Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation. Nish pointed out that while the Green Island area was an area of concern to the Hanover police for criminal activity during 2024 and 2025, due to strong intervention, there was a drastic drop in criminal activity there, though police discovered that interpersonal conflicts were on the increase.

“The hotels are closed, people are at home on a daily basis, and so the incidents of domestic disputes are on the rise,” he said.

Hurricane Melissa damaged several hotels in the Negril area, where many residents of Green Island were formerly employed. The parish has some 13 hotels and 139 villas, mostly situated between Green Island and Negril. Many of the damaged properties are now undergoing repairs.

CRIME STATS

Speaking to the parish’s 2025 crime statistics, Nish said there were 22 murders compared to the 48 in 2024. There were 22 cases of shootings compared to 53 in 2024. He said the police had a 73 per cent clean-up rate in crime, slightly lower that the 85 per cent they had projected. He noted that 12 of the 22 murders committed in the parish in 2025 were committed in the Green Island area.

“We are looking to continue this level of work and commitment going forward into 2026, and to continue on the same reduction trajectory,”said Nish.

Heatha Miller-Bennett, the member of parliament for Western Hanover, who attended the meeting, expressed concern over the closure of the hotels, and the economic and psychological effect on the constituency.

“The tourism industry and workers within that industry is an issue that we have to be very vocal about. Many of the persons within this constituency are dependent on tourism,” said Miller-bennett. “Yes, we can provide food packages, but there needs to be a more sustainable approach to assist these persons, who are dependent on tourism for work.”

Miller-bennett further argued that employment is needed for the wellbeing of the local economy.

“If persons are home all day not doing anything, sooner or later the police will have far more work to do,” she said. “The hotels are closed, not much is being said about how we plan to address the damage or the fallout from this, and so that is a concern for me.”

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