Danielle Archer | Why Jamaica needs a public scorecard for disaster recovery

When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, it didn’t just flatten homes, it exposed deep fault lines in our disaster-response systems. Weeks later, families still wait for relief, some communities remain marooned, and institutions continue to struggle with coordination.

The storm laid bare the fragility of our health infrastructure, stretched thin and uneven. It left elderly citizens isolated without care, and deaf Jamaicans without access to critical assistance in a moment of national crisis. As we rebuild roofs, roads, and livelihoods, we must also rebuild trust. Not just with donors – but with every Jamaican whose survival demands more than sympathy. Accountability must be visible, not vague. Tangible, not tucked away.

Jamaicans deserve a system that works – and answers. That’s why we must establish a forward-facing accountability scorecard, guided by an independent oversight committee. This is not a spreadsheet. It is a civic compass. A tool that makes promises visible, progress measurable, and leadership answerable. Because recovery is not just about reconstruction, it’s about restoring public faith - especially in a landscape where the public often does not know who gets government contracts, how much is allotted, or whether commitments are fulfilled.

WHY A SCORECARD?

Disaster recovery is not just about logistics, it’s about lives. A scorecard offers:

• Transparency: It tracks what has been pledged, what has been delivered, and by whom.

• Budgeting and planning: It aligns resources with real needs, reducing duplication and waste.

• Coordination: It bridges ministries, agencies, and civil society, ensuring no community is left behind.

• Feedback mechanisms: It invites citizens to validate progress, flag gaps, and shape priorities.

But, perhaps most critically, a scorecard helps address the deep and growing distrust of political actors. According to a 2024 Don Anderson poll, 65 per cent of Jamaicans believe corruption has worsened, particularly among those in high office. Only 11 per cent felt it had improved. This is not just a statistic – it is a signal. It is a signal that citizens do not trust that donations of cash and kind will be used solely for the public good. This erosion of public trust is not limited to citizens – it has also been voiced in the Manchester Municipal Corporation, councillors from both major parties voiced deep concern over delays in accessing promised disaster relief funds – delays that stretch, not only beyond Hurricane Melissa, but back to Hurricane Beryl a year earlier.

Mayor Donovan Mitchell noted that each councillor had been advised they could access up to J$500,000 to support affected communities. Yet, many report that these funds have not materialised. Jamaica Labour Party Councillor Omar Miller, who represents the Craighead Division, was especially blunt: “Councillors have not received one red cent to aid in hurricane relief.” Several councillors also highlighted the disparity between allocations received by members of parliament and those available to local government officials – who, in many cases, are the first responders during crises. Their appeals underscore the need for clearer protocols, equitable resource distribution, and timely support at the local level, where recovery begins and trust is built.

SCORECARD FOR SYSTEMS THAT MUST NOT FAIL

A forward-facing accountability scorecard also anchors a sustainable recovery plan across critical sectors like agriculture, health, and education. By tracking not just immediate relief but long-term commitments – such as replanting schedules, clinic repairs, and education recovery schedules, the scorecard ensures that recovery is not episodic but enduring. It allows ministries and local actors to align timelines, monitor progress, and adjust strategies in real time. For farmers, it can map the restoration of irrigation systems and access to inputs.

For the health sector, the scorecard can spotlight gaps in service delivery, especially for the elderly and people with disabilities – and help accelerate the use of technology to improve access for deaf individuals and older adults. And for education, it can track the return of students, the rebuilding of infrastructure, and the inclusion of deaf learners and others often left behind. In short, the scorecard becomes a tool, not just for accountability, but for resilience, equity, and reform.

CIVIC INVITATION, NOT JUST METRICS

This scorecard is more than a monitoring tool. It is an invitation to the public to participate in governance. It says to every citizen: ‘your voice matters, your experience counts, and your oversight is welcome’. A scorecard transforms recovery from a top-down transaction into a shared responsibility. When communities help shape the indicators, validate the data, and hold institutions accountable, we move from silence to stewardship, from passive recipients to active architects of transformation.

INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT MATTERS

To be credible, the scorecard must be stewarded by an independent oversight committee comprising civil society leaders, technical experts, and community representatives. This committee would:

• Set benchmarks and timelines

• Validate data and progress reports

• Facilitate public engagement and feedback

• Issue periodic reviews and recommendations

This structure ensures that recovery is not just reactive, but reformative. It transforms disaster response from charity to accountability, from opacity to ownership.

MODEL FOR THE REGION

Jamaica has an enviable opportunity to become a regional standard, a blueprint for how small island states manage climate-related disasters with integrity and innovation. If implemented well, it would demonstrate that transparency is not a luxury, but a lifeline. That citizen engagement is not a threat, but a strength.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica stands at a crossroads – not only of reconstruction, but of civic renewal. This is a moment to deepen citizen engagement and restore public trust in the systems that govern us. Because rebuilding without trust leaves the very structures meant to protect us exposed – and fragile. We are reminded of Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ April 2025 praise for the Edmund Ridge development, which he called a “visual, physical, and real contradiction” to claims of poor-quality housing, a model of “security, dignity, and real value for homeowners”.

Melissa has made one thing clear: public assurances must be matched by independent verification. Accountability cannot be symbolic – it must be structural To build back stronger, we need to rebuild with transparency, equity, and accountability. We must aim for recovery that is not only visible, but verifiable. One that honours survival with systems that serve. It would be politically prudent – and morally necessary – to embrace an accountability scorecard, not for numbers alone, but for dignity, viability, and trust. Establishing an independent oversight committee to apply this scorecard ensures that, as we recover, we become better than we were. In a moment when public confidence is shaken, transparency is not a threat, it is a tool for restoration.

Danielle S. Archer is principal director of National Integrity Action. She is a patriotic Jamaican and integrity advocate who champions transparency and inclusive civic engagement. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com