Jamaica forms hurricane relief committee co-chaired by McKenzie and Vaz
Published:Friday | October 31, 2025 | 1:21 PM
The Government has set up a number of Cabinet sub-committees to oversee hurricane relief and recovery efforts in the wake of the devastation wrought on Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa.
At a Jamaica House press briefing to update on relief efforts, Minister of Information, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, said that Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy, Daryl Vaz, and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, will co-chair the recovery and oversight committee.
Other members of that committee are Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith; Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology, and Special Projects, Dr Andrew Wheatley; Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr; Minister with responsibility for Water, Matthew Samuda and Morris Dixon, with Finance Minister Fayval Williams and Minister Audrey Marks are ex-officio members.
A private sector committee will be co-chaired by minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for efficiency, innovation and digital transformation, Audrey Marks, and Senator Keith Duncan, while Culture Minister Olivia Grange has been tasked with mobilising churches.
Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Robert Montague will oversee efforts to assist family members who need to get in touch with relatives from whom they have not heard.
Morris Dixon said that US technology company Starlink will be providing satellite internet services to police stations in affected areas so people can get in touch with their families. Charging packs will be provided for charging phones.
Morris-Dixon said that the road from Hanover to Westmoreland has been cleared and efforts are being made to clear the roadway from Black River to Westmoreland.
- Lester Hinds
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