Minister with responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Robert Nesta Morgan, says the Government of Jamaica, through the National Works Agency (NWA), is fully prepared for the potential impact of Hurricane Beryl.

Minister Morgan seeks to reassure Jamaicans that the NWA has ramped up its drain-cleaning activities and is in constant communication with key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated response.

Minister Morgan’s statement comes against the backdrop of what he describes as misguided calls by the Opposition for the release of funds for drain cleaning.

He states that in June, all constituencies were granted allocations for drain cleaning in preparation for the hurricane season, with over $100 million provided for this purpose.

He adds that MEGJC is taking all necessary steps through the NWA to prepare for Hurricane Beryl, with preparations well underway to mitigate the risks posed by the storm. Cleaning operations are prioritized and will be completed as swiftly as possible, with many exercises already commenced or scheduled to begin this afternoon.

To this end, the NWA has deployed equipment and initiated clearance exercises across several key locations to ensure better hydraulic flow in the event of heavy rainfall. This includes areas such as Wickie-Wackie and the lower section of the Sandy Gully in St. Andrew; the North Gully and the South Gully in St. James; Danvers Pen in St. Thomas; and historically flood-prone areas in Portmore, St. Catherine.

Additionally, Minister Morgan states that key partners in the NWA’s disaster response mechanism, including contractors and equipment owners, have been engaged to ensure readiness to respond at a moment’s notice. Specific instructions have also been given to contractors on active major projects to monitor and address potential impacts.

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