Jamaica faces road safety, hurricane readiness, Sahara dust and fare hike concerns

Jamaica’s road safety gains took a blow after a fatal crash in St. James on Monday killed a 22-year-old woman, even as national road deaths remained below last year’s pace. National Road Safety Council vice-chairman Dr Lucien Jones said fatalities had been running 29 per cent lower than the same period in 2025. He noted that 374 people died on the roads last year, with 158 deaths recorded by this time then, compared with 111 so far this year before the latest tragedy.

Concern is also rising over the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and runs until November 30. ODPEM director general Commander Alvin Gayle said Jamaica’s emergency system is operational and ready to respond, with support from the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Fire Brigade and Jamaica Constabulary Force. He acknowledged, however, that scaling up for a major event like Hurricane Melissa remains a key challenge.

Professor Carol Archer, an urban planner and public policy expert, questioned whether enough has been done to strengthen local authority capacity under the new building code. She also pointed to unresolved infrastructure needs in hard-hit communities, including roads, bridges and drainage. More than seven months after Hurricane Melissa, dozens of people remain in shelters, while others are still living in makeshift structures covered with tarpaulin and zinc.

Health and environmental officials are meanwhile warning Jamaicans to take precautions as a thick plume of Saharan dust affects air quality. NEPA air quality manager Jodian Marston said the agency is tracking the dust by satellite with the Met Service and through ground-level particulate monitoring. The Health Ministry said the dust may worsen asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections and allergies. NEPA has also linked dust episodes to poorer air quality, algal blooms and the movement of soil-borne bacteria and fungi that may affect agriculture.

Commuters are now paying more after the Government approved a 16 per cent increase for public passenger vehicle fares. The first 8 per cent took effect on June 2, with the remaining 8 per cent expected in July. AllVoice Taxi Association president Lorine Finnikin said operators accepted the phased increase in good faith but argued it still falls short of covering fuel, insurance, maintenance and inflation. He also warned operators not to overcharge and urged stronger enforcement of uniform and parking rules.