Montague Tells Developers to Make Climate Resilience Central to Every Build

Hon. Robert Montague, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, has called on players in the development sector to make resilience a central part of how they plan and build.

"As developers, planners, engineers, financiers, and policymakers, you have the power to determine whether the communities we build today can withstand the challenges of tomorrow," he said.

Speaking in his capacity as the minister with oversight for Land Titling and Settlements, Mr. Montague gave the opening address at the Jamaica Developers Association (JDA) Real Estate Development webinar held on Thursday (June 25). The session was titled 'Building for the Future Part II: Costs, Risks & Resilience Post-Melissa'.

He told participants that recent storms, including Hurricane Melissa and the earlier Hurricane Beryl, have reinforced for the country that building to withstand disaster is no longer a choice but a requirement.

Mr. Montague said the sector must put up infrastructure that can endure more intense weather and cope with the effects of a changing climate. "Invest in innovation, embrace new technologies, and never compromise on standards. See resilience not as an added cost but as an investment in lives, livelihoods, and long-term prosperity," he stressed.

According to the minister, well-designed and soundly built structures help neighbourhoods ride out hurricane impacts more effectively. He said roads, housing, public works, and wider development planning all need resilience built in from the start.

"Climate change is already changing the realities we face. Stronger storms, heavier rainfall and more frequent climate shocks mean we must change the way we plan and build. The question is not whether climate change will affect development; the question is whether we are adapting quickly enough," Mr. Montague affirmed.

He added that resilience should not be bolted on late in a project; it belongs at the design stage. "That means embracing innovation, smarter building practices, improved drainage systems, climate resilient materials and better planning tools. Put simply… we cannot solve tomorrow's challenges with yesterday's solutions," the Minister maintained.

On the government side, Mr. Montague said the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) would support stronger planning, risk-based development, and infrastructure that stands up to hazards. "NaRRA was created with a simple but important mission… not just to rebuild what was lost but to build back better for developers, investors, and communities. The best time to build resilience into a project is not after construction; it is at the first design meeting, the first survey, and the first investment decision," he underscored.

He also argued that durable development depends on cooperation among the state, developers, and those who finance projects. "We all have a role to play. We must stop viewing resilience as an additional cost and start seeing it for what it truly is… an investment that protects lives, safeguards communities, and strengthens economic growth," the Minister declared.

Mr. Montague closed by saying present-day choices by industry leaders will decide whether Jamaica only bounces back after future crises or comes out of them in a stronger position. "Think beyond the next project, the next quarter, or the next election cycle and focus, instead, on the Jamaica we want to leave for future generations… a Jamaica that is stronger, safer, and more sustainable and better prepared for whatever lies ahead," Mr. Montague urged.