Holness Calls on Diaspora to Partner in Jamaica's Hurricane Reconstruction Push

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has urged members of the Jamaican diaspora to align their investments with the Government's reconstruction agenda as the country moves into a rapid rebuilding phase following Hurricane Melissa.

Addressing delegates at the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, held over four days under the theme "Diaspora Partnerships, Rebuilding a More Resilient Jamaica," Dr. Holness praised overseas Jamaicans for answering the call for help after the storm. He noted that supporters sent funds, organised relief, advocated for the island, and kept in contact with loved ones at home.

The Prime Minister said he was encouraged to learn that structured projects are already in place for hurricane-affected communities. As the administration advances work through the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARO), he encouraged diaspora members to coordinate with state-led infrastructure plans. "So, we may be building a road and you have some lands in proximity. Uh let us know if you're going to develop the land so we can know how to size the sewage, the water, the utilities, and to help you get the approvals and to start the project," he said, adding that such alignment would help channel private investment alongside public spending.

Dr. Holness also called for a cultural shift to raise productivity, efficiency, and the ease of doing business. "Efficiency is a resource like oil, like bauxite, like tourism, efficiency," he said. "We need the cultural revolution in the way in which we do business so that we can match the speed on the track with the speed on doing business."

In Kingston, the Prime Minister presented land titles to residents of Ackee Walk and Jacksons Town in St. Andrew. Both communities lie off Molynes Road and were declared special improvement areas in 1978 and 1980. He said titling remains a central government strategy because it strengthens a sense of ownership and responsibility, and pledged that more titles would follow under the systematic registration process. Agencies holding land banks have also been directed to identify parcels that could be released, though he noted equity concerns around a planned competitive application process for prospective buyers.

Dr. Holness also met Takiya Dryden, the Jamaican chef competing on MasterChef in the United States. During a backyard cooking session, he congratulated her for representing Jamaican culture on the international stage. Dryden said she has been preparing Jamaican dishes to showcase the island's flavours, noting that the competition asks contestants to present their culture on a plate.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister hosted a Father's Day brunch for staff of the Office of the Prime Minister on the lawns of Jamaica House. The World Cup-themed gathering gave him an opportunity to stress the role of fathers in national development and to encourage parents to instil discipline, productivity, and respect for work in their children.