KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 29, CMC – Jamaica and the United Kingdom will sign an agreement next week to jointly fund technical experts to support the island’s reconstruction following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa a year ago.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the agreement would be signed during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
Under the arrangement, both governments will share equally the cost of deploying experts from three firms – Arup, Mace and Gleeds – which comprise the UK Delivery Team.
“Under this arrangement, Jamaica and the United Kingdom will co-fund on a 50-50 basis the cost of deploying technical experts from three firms – Arup, Mace, and Gleeds,” Holness said during a special press briefing at Jamaica House.
He said the team had supported Peru’s reconstruction programme following the devastating El Niño floods of 2017.
The agreement follows a visit by a Jamaican government delegation, led by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Robert Morgan, to Peru to examine infrastructure delivered by the team and the strategies used to accelerate reconstruction.
Holness said the specialists would strengthen the delivery capacity of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) while its permanent team is established. Several positions have already been advertised, and recruitment is progressing, he added.
The experts will work alongside Jamaican professionals, with knowledge transfer and capacity-building forming part of the arrangement.
“Our objective is to get projects moving faster, while equipping Jamaicans with the skills and systems to lead delivery over the long term,” Holness said.
He said NaRRA would focus on reconstruction and resilience, while ministries, departments and agencies continued to provide immediate relief and household recovery assistance.
“NaRRA is designed to reconstruct better infrastructure and systems that will allow us to withstand the next disaster that may come, so that another generation doesn’t have to go back and start again,” Holness said.
He added that the authority was intended to operate without placing additional pressure on an already burdened public service.
Holness said NaRRA would lead one of the largest public infrastructure programmes in Jamaica’s history, covering roads, bridges, water systems, schools, health facilities, town centres and communities.
The Government’s objective, he said, was not only to restore infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025 but also to improve productivity, create new economic opportunities and support higher economic growth.
CMC/ed/2026