ST JAMES, Jamaica — In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, the Digicel Foundation has announced a strategic overhaul of its approach to constructing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) laboratories in educational institutions across Jamaica. CEO Charmaine Daniels unveiled the new initiative during a handover ceremony for hurricane relief funds at Anchovy Primary School in St James this Thursday.
The event, which provided critical support to five primary schools in western Jamaica, also served as a platform to introduce resilient rebuilding protocols for damaged smart labs. Daniels emphasized that future constructions will prioritize structural integrity and strategic placement, explicitly ruling out upper-floor installations that proved vulnerable during the recent hurricane.
‘Hurricane Melissa presented significant challenges but delivered crucial lessons about sustainable construction,’ Daniels stated. ‘Our rebuilt laboratories will embody strengthened designs with slab-top roofs, reflecting our commitment to smarter, more intentional building practices that withstand future climatic events.’
The foundation confirmed specific rebuilding projects for Anchovy Primary and Unity Primary, both of which suffered complete destruction of their upper-level ICT facilities. This comprehensive review of construction methodologies represents a paradigm shift in how educational infrastructure is developed in hurricane-prone regions, blending disaster preparedness with technological advancement for Jamaica’s next generation of learners.