KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a blunt and urgent address, former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has declared that Jamaica’s current approach to disaster readiness is dangerously outdated and must be overhauled if the country is to survive the escalating threats posed by extreme weather events.
Speaking at a high-level crisis management forum hosted in New Kingston, Patterson issued a sobering challenge to national leaders, policymakers, and the private sector: abandon old models of post-disaster recovery and embrace a forward-facing, science-driven strategy to safeguard lives and infrastructure.
The event, spearheaded by Infinity Trainers, was convened in the wake of the recent devastation from Hurricane Melissa — a storm Patterson described as a “preview of coming attractions” in a new era of climate volatility. Alongside former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Patterson lent his voice to a growing call for systemic resilience and accountability in national planning.
“We’re no longer in the age of rebuilding,” Patterson warned. “We’re in the age of reimagining — and anything less is national negligence.”
Structural Failures and Legislative Lethargy
Patterson criticized Jamaica’s continued reliance on 20th-century building practices, arguing that the country has failed to modernize despite clear warnings from climate scientists and engineers. He revealed that a national building code — drafted nearly two decades ago during his administration — remains unimplemented.
“We are living in the age of 200-mile-per-hour winds. Not theory. Reality. Yet we still approve homes on riverbanks and hillsides as if the future won’t arrive.”
The absence of a robust legal framework, he argued, is not merely an oversight but a systemic risk. He called for zoning enforcement, tougher penalties for illegal construction, and an uncompromising stance on building in no-go areas.
Preparedness is National Security
Patterson also challenged the nation to expand its disaster lens beyond hurricanes. Noting Jamaica’s location on the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault line, he warned that a major earthquake is not a possibility — it is an inevitability.
“The geologists aren’t guessing. They’re warning. Preparedness must become part of our national security doctrine,” he said.
He called for continuous stakeholder training, citizen education, and the equipping of civil agencies with modern crisis-response tools. According to Patterson, a national emergency shouldn’t trigger panic, but precision — and Jamaica is nowhere near ready.
Cultural Barriers, Political Will
Acknowledging the emotional and cultural roots that keep families in at-risk areas, Patterson stopped short of blaming communities. Instead, he placed the responsibility squarely on the state’s failure to act decisively and consistently over successive administrations.
“This is not about tradition. It’s about survival. And the longer we pretend otherwise, the more lives we put in jeopardy.”
He emphasized the need for clear relocation protocols, social support mechanisms, and widespread public education campaigns to depoliticize climate action.
Time Is Running Out
As the workshop concluded, Patterson left attendees with a warning that cut across party lines and economic classes: Jamaica cannot afford another near-miss.
“Melissa spared us. The next one might not. Get serious. Or get swept away.”
The event marked another step in Infinity Trainers’ mission to strengthen national capacity around disaster management, bridging the public and private sectors in anticipation of what Patterson calls “a new climate normal.”
His message was clear: the clock is ticking, and the storm is not waiting.
