KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s governing political force, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has unanimously endorsed two critical resolutions during a Central Executive meeting held on Sunday. The decisions demonstrate the party’s strategic pivot toward national crisis management in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster.
The first resolution constitutes an official mandate of unwavering support for the government’s intensified Hurricane Melissa recovery initiative. JLP Chairman Robert Montague detailed that the directive commands all state agencies, departments, and institutions to accelerate relief and reconstruction operations in communities ravaged by the Category 5 hurricane, which struck the island on October 28.
Acknowledging the unprecedented ferocity of the storm, the resolution commended the administration’s comprehensive preparedness and response strategy. This encompassed pre-emptive insurance protocols, shelter readiness, extensive drain clearance, and the strategic pre-positioning of vital relief materials. The government’s collaboration with both public and private sector entities has facilitated the distribution of an estimated 200,000 care packages to affected citizens.
Significant progress has been reported, with electrical power restored to 80% of consumers and water services reinstated to approximately 70% of the island. Initiatives for distributing construction materials and executing broader reconstruction plans are currently in progress. However, the executive body soberly recognized the ongoing severe disruption to thousands of lives, with numerous residents still lacking permanent shelter and essential utilities. The resolution formally extended sympathies to families who suffered bereavement or property loss and reinforced the commitment to expedited rehabilitation efforts.
The second resolution ratified the cancellation of the party’s scheduled 2025 Annual Conference. This move underscores the JLP’s prioritization of national recuperation over political activities. In a related organizational decision, the executive endorsed the en bloc re-election of the entire incumbent officer corps, ensuring leadership continuity during this period of focused governmental support.