Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered a sobering yet resolute New Year’s address, framing Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa—the most destructive storm in the nation’s history—as a catalyst for transformative change. The Category 5 hurricane, which claimed numerous lives and caused widespread devastation, has prompted what Holness termed a “renewed sense of purpose” among Jamaicans.
Significant progress has been made in restoring critical infrastructure, with 90% of customers now having electricity, water, and telecommunications services reinstated. The government has initiated comprehensive school repairs and is implementing rotational learning modalities to ensure educational continuity, particularly for exam-bound students. Medical facilities are being restored with support from field hospitals, while first responders and healthcare workers received special commendation for their heroic efforts.
A landmark home-repair program is underway, leveraging the administration’s economic management which enabled one of Jamaica’s largest social-care initiatives. Over 16,000 citizens have already received rehabilitation grants, with 50,000 damage assessments completed to facilitate targeted aid distribution. The Jamaica Defence Force, alongside engineering corps from Ghana and Guyana, is actively engaged in roof restoration, while modular housing solutions have been procured for those rendered homeless.
Holness announced the establishment of a National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority with sweeping powers to coordinate rebuilding efforts across multiple sectors including infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, and agriculture. This ambitious initiative is backed by $6.7 billion in multilateral support for reconstruction, which the Prime Minister attributed to Jamaica’s strengthened economic foundation.
The address highlighted remarkable security achievements, with murders declining by 42% in 2025—marking the first time in 31 years that homicides fell below 700. This third consecutive year of reduced violence demonstrates the success of Plan Secure Jamaica, which involved transforming security forces, creating MOCA, tripling security budgets, and implementing emergency measures.
Despite these accomplishments, Holness issued a stark warning about impending challenges in 2026, citing climate change as an existential threat. He noted that historically rare weather events are now occurring with alarming frequency, citing back-to-back hurricanes Beryl (2024) and Melissa (2025) as evidence of this new reality. The Prime Minister also pointed to shifting global秩序, geopolitical maneuvering, and economic instability as additional sources of potential crisis, urging national preparedness and resilience in the face of multifaceted challenges.