Letter of the Day | Re: Hurricane Melissa’s lesson for constitutional reform

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Rosalea Hamilton’s article, ‘A Lesson for Constitutional Reform’, lands with precision. Hurricane Melissa did more than devastate the western parishes; it exposed the cracks in Jamaica’s governance structure, the same cracks we’ve inherited from a colonial past that still shapes the way power moves in this country.

Hamilton is right: the central government cannot meet the urgent needs of communities during disasters of this magnitude. But the deeper truth is that our Constitution keeps local government on too tight a leash. Section 2(4)(a) of the 2015 Local Government Amendment hints at autonomy, yet municipalities remain starved of the authority and resources they need.

If constitutional reform is to mean anything, it must empower parish councils beyond symbolism. Jamaica needs provisions that relax restrictive policies during national emergencies, allowing municipalities to act immediately, not after Kingston clears the way. The first responders are never agencies; it is community neighbours, the people who know who is missing, who is bedridden, who has no transportation, and who cannot survive a night without medication.

For this reason, I support establishing a constitutional right to petition both municipal councils and the central government, with mandatory timelines for response. This is not mere bureaucracy; it is the difference between chaos and coordination. With this mechanism, communities could identify seniors living alone, persons with disabilities, or medically vulnerable residents, allowing early evacuation, medication support, and proper shelter arrangements before disaster strikes.

EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT

Urban planning must also evolve. Jamaica’s historical buildings carry emotional weight but, without structural redevelopment, they become hazards. Hurricane Melissa reminded us how vulnerable these colonial-era structures are. Legislation should require a 10-year redevelopment cycle for historical buildings, ensuring they meet modern safety standards while still preserving cultural heritage.

Additionally, emergency allocations should be automatically disbursed to municipalities once a disaster is declared, enabling immediate food and water distribution. Every shelter should have at least one duty police officer and personnel trained in first aid. Strategic partnerships with the HEART/NSTA Trust and Jamaica Public Service can build a community-level disaster response team, citizens skilled in emergency care and basic powerline restoration, ready to act when the grid collapses, and can be used to support the region or international partners.

Hamilton suggests an elected senate (or at least one reimagined to serve local interests) that champions equitable development across parishes and acts as a check on central power.

Also, increase the number (or share) of independent or non-partisan senators, so that the Senate does not become just a rubber stamp for the executive. As the commentator argues, that could help break the chokehold of party politics.

Enshrine in the Constitution protections for public integrity bodies: for example, guarantee constitutional status to the Integrity Commission, the Electoral Commission, the Public Defender, etc., so they are insulated from political interference. Rosalea Hamilton has argued this in her deeper analysis.

ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

Given Hamilton’s framing around hurricanes (Melissa in this case), the Constitution could explicitly recognise environmental rights or climate resilience obligations, e.g., guaranteeing funding for local community disaster-response capacity, early warning systems, etc.

Also, legislate for community-based disaster response: formalise the role of neighbourhood networks, train local institutions, and grant them budgetary power for climate adaptation

If Jamaica is serious about constitutional reform, we must stop performing change and start engineering it. The colonial blueprint has expired. Melissa was not just a storm; it was a warning, a reminder that governance must be built from the ground up, not handed down from the top.

Empower our municipalities. Strengthen our communities. And write a Constitution that prepares Jamaica, not just for the next hurricane, but for the future we have avoided for far too long.

DANIEL BARNES