As we step into 2026, Jamaica carries both the scars and the lessons of a tumultuous 2025. The Category 5 hurricane of October 28 left its mark on our towns, our infrastructure, and our hearts. But more than destruction, it revealed the depth of resilience in our people. Across the island and beyond, Jamaicans responded with courage, compassion, and a resolve that no storm could break. Communities rallied, neighbours helped neighbours, and our Diaspora mobilized resources on an unprecedented scale. In the face of adversity, our national spirit proved unshakable.
Recovery is not immediate. It is painstaking, demanding patience, strategy, and shared effort. The road to rebuilding homes, livelihoods, and public infrastructure will be long, but it is one we must walk together. In this journey, accountability and transparency are essential. Relief must reach those most in need, and every resource deployed must be used effectively to restore communities stronger than before.
The democratic process of 2025 further underscored our collective desire for governance that is responsive, accountable, and engaged. Jamaicans entrusted the Opposition with greater responsibility in Parliament, reflecting the public’s expectation for scrutiny, clear guidance, and solutions-driven leadership. In times of national crisis, constructive oversight is not opposition for its own sake—it is a commitment to the people and to the nation’s future.
As 2026 unfolds, there are clear priorities that demand focus: restoring essential infrastructure, supporting farmers and small businesses, rebuilding schools and hospitals, and ensuring that families affected by the hurricane receive timely and meaningful assistance. Beyond material recovery, this is also a time to strengthen the social fabric that binds us—our neighbours, our communities, and our shared values of care, collaboration, and resilience.
Leadership in times like these is defined not by words, but by action. It is about consistently standing for the public good, challenging inefficiency, and fostering solutions that empower citizens to rebuild their lives and their communities. It is about recognizing that Jamaica’s recovery is a collective mission, not the work of any single individual or institution.
As we embark on this new year, let us carry forward the lessons of the past: the importance of preparation, the value of solidarity, and the power of decisive action. Let 2026 be a year where we rebuild smarter, act with purpose, and rise together—stronger, united, and undeterred.
Walk with determination. Support one another. And may this year bring renewal, progress, and hope for all Jamaicans.
