In a strategic move to bolster disaster management efforts following Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The decision, announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives, is effective immediately. This realignment aims to enhance logistical coordination between ODPEM and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), ensuring a more efficient and unified response to the crisis.