UNDP, Australia partner on $9m project to build three solar centres for hurricane-hot fishers

Three additional solar energy community centres are to be established in fishing villages affected by Hurricane Melissa under a $9.2 million partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Australia.

When completed, the UNDP-supported centres will total five, with plans to expand to other impacted fishing communities. Two centres were recently delivered to Parottee and Galleon Beach in St Elizabeth.

UNDP Resident Representative Dr Kishan Khoday said the initiative demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to climate-smart recovery and sustainable development.

“Though modest in scale, these systems send a strong message: clean energy can support livelihoods, strengthen food security, and help communities recover stronger than before,” he stated in a statement on Friday.

The two recently delivered centres now provide cold storage for more than 300 fishers, Starlink internet, charging stations, and air-conditioned spaces powered by eight photovoltaic panels generating 5,600 watts each. Two boat engines were also donated to Galleon Beach for shared community use.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, welcomed the initiative, highlighting its contribution to sustainability, climate resilience, and rebuilding livelihoods.

The solar centres, delivered under UNDP’s Jamaica Resilient Recovery Initiative in partnership with the National Fisheries Authority and Jamaica 4H Foundation, provide clean energy at zero cost and form part of broader efforts to restore fishing communities’ resilience after Hurricane Melissa.

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