Sat | Dec 13, 2025

Gov’t to engage SDC in hurricane season preparations

Published:Thursday | May 8, 2025 | 9:34 AM
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, addressing employees of the Social Development Commission during the agency’s inaugural National Staff Summit. The event was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kin
JIS News
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, addressing employees of the Social Development Commission during the agency’s inaugural National Staff Summit. The event was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on May 6.

The Government is looking to incorporate the Social Development Commission (SDC) in preparations for the 2025 Hurricane Season.

This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, while speaking during the SDC’s inaugural National Staff Summit on Tuesday.

The event was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston under the theme ‘Reset. Rebuild. Reignite: SDC in Transition’.

McKenzie, who hinted at the “imminent” possibility of an active hurricane season, which begins on June 1, indicated that the SDC can play a role in the nation’s disaster response mechanism.

He emphasised that the agency has the potential to do more for Jamaica’s communities, adding that the Ministry will ensure it has the support needed to make this possible.

“I’ll be inviting the team to a meeting to have further discussions on it, because community profiles go a far way in helping how we put the necessary things in place as we prepare for the hurricane season,” McKenzie shared.

Meanwhile, he told the participants that preparations for the season are already under way.

“I had a meeting… at the Ministry [on Tuesday] with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the disaster coordinators, looking at… what that prospect holds for us here in Jamaica,” McKenzie said.

- JIS News

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