标签： Jamaica

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.

NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist who emerged from relative obscurity to claim America’s most prominent municipal office, was formally inaugurated as New York City’s mayor during a historic ceremony commencing the new year. The swearing-in ceremony occurred precisely at midnight within a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall, symbolizing both the city’s infrastructure heritage and Mamdani’s grassroots political origins.

The inauguration events continued Thursday with a ceremonial celebration featuring prominent progressive allies including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The production anticipated approximately 4,000 ticketed attendees with additional public viewing areas accommodating tens of thousands of spectators along Broadway, reflecting Mamdani’s commitment to accessible governance.

In his initial remarks, Mamdani characterized the mayoralty as “the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” while political analysts immediately began scrutinizing his capacity to implement an ambitious progressive agenda featuring rent stabilization, universal childcare, and fare-free public transportation. The administration’s trajectory appears inevitably intertwined with national politics, particularly given Mamdani’s strained relationship with former President Donald Trump.

Despite Trump’s previous characterization of Mamdani as a “communist lunatic” and threats to reduce federal funding, the two conducted unexpectedly cordial discussions at the White House in November. Columbia University political analyst Lincoln Mitchell noted the meeting exceeded expectations for Mamdani, though he cautioned about the relationship’s volatility, especially regarding impending immigration enforcement actions.

The mayor, who has labeled Trump a fascist, has simultaneously pledged to protect immigrant communities, setting the stage for potential jurisdictional conflicts. Mamdani’s oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who recently successfully prosecuted Trump for civil fraud, adding another layer of political symbolism to the transition of power.

In a comprehensive New Year’s address, Jamaican Opposition Leader Mark Golding outlined a vision of accountable governance and national unity while reflecting on the catastrophic Hurricane Melissa that devastated the nation in 2025. The People’s National Party (PNP) leader emphasized reconstruction with resilience as Jamaica enters 2026, promising intensified parliamentary scrutiny of government operations.

Golding acknowledged the extraordinary humanitarian response that followed the natural disaster, noting that ‘Jamaicans at home and abroad demonstrated unprecedented generosity through container shipments and relief missions to affected communities.’ He described how citizens rallied behind national colors in ‘a torrent of love, caring and support for our fellow Jamaicans in need.’

The Opposition Leader highlighted significant electoral gains made by the PNP in the September general elections, where the party gained approximately 100,000 additional votes and doubled its parliamentary representation to 28 seats. ‘This mandate indicates many Jamaicans seek leadership embracing integrity, accountability, and responsive governance,’ Golding stated, adding that the strengthened opposition position enables more forceful scrutiny of government actions.

Rejecting partisan approaches to disaster recovery, Golding committed to constructive opposition: ‘We have avoided any temptation to make political mileage out of this disaster. We recognize national unity is desired and needed.’ He outlined specific priorities including transparent distribution of relief resources, restoration of critical infrastructure, and expanded mental health support for trauma victims.

Golding emphasized the dual challenge of physical reconstruction and trust-building, stating: ‘The Jamaica we are striving to rebuild must be one where investment decisions are people-centered, opportunities are accessible to youth and persons with disabilities, women are empowered, the elderly supported, and vulnerable families strengthened.’

The PNP leader concluded with a personal pledge to prioritize national interest and responsible governance, urging Jamaicans to ‘live with purpose and kindness’ while supporting local businesses and hurricane-affected communities throughout the recovery process.