Collective recovery and smart planning post-Melissa

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica at a critical juncture. As we mourn the losses and rebuild our communities, we must also embrace the lessons offered by science, technology, and global collaboration. The recent findings that is scheduled to be presented at COP30, developed using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI), will provide Jamaica with quantitative data and actionable recommendations for assessing loss, guiding recovery, and preparing for future resilience.

These insights remind us that recovery is not only about repairing what was damaged, but about strategically planning for a stronger, more sustainable future. The concept of “smart recovery planning” moving from strategy to action offers us a pathway to rebuild with purpose. This can be achieved by:

– Salvaging and recycling materials, we can generate new industries that provide jobs while reducing waste. Offering both long and short term opportunities leading to career development opportunities.

– Recyclables that can be repurposed to support farming, prevent erosion, and stabilise soils.

– Fuel and energy alternatives including energy recovery with opportunities for additional funding streams focused on recycling (ISO, LEED – International Standards Organization, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Salvaged resources can be converted into energy solutions, reducing dependency and enhancing resilience through conservation.

– Applying ground cover to reduce evapotranspiration (the combined process of water moving from the land surface into the atmosphere),will conserve water, protect watersheds, and sustain communities.

This integrated approach ensures that recovery is not just reactive, but transformative. It allows us to rebuild lives disrupted by Hurricane Melissa by building systems that protect future generations with an unbiased commitment from our Government under a bipartisan recovery agreement in the form of a memorandum sanctioned by parliament.

We must recognise that the shepherding of our nation through this crisis requires collective effort government, private sector, civil society, and diaspora working together. By embracing the tools of modern science and the wisdom of sustainable practices, Jamaica can emerge stronger, more resilient, and more united.

Let this be a time of thanksgiving and gratitude for the resilience of our people, and a call to action for all stakeholders to commit to recovery strategies that not only restore, but renew.

Jamaica “One Nation, One Spirit, One Tomorrow“

PATRICK BROWN

Pembroke Pines, Florida

pbrown_436@yahoo.com