Gov't to impose measures under Disaster Risk Management Act amid TS Melissa - Holness

The Government is close to imposing several measures under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) to help save lives and properties as Jamaica braces for the impact of Tropical Storm Melissa.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness did not disclose the specific measures being contemplated, but signalled that they could take effect shortly.

“We expect to do a declaration possibly by the end of today or some time early tomorrow,” Holness said on Thursday during a special media briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew.

He noted that the DRMA provides “certain powers” that the Government and other state entities “will use for the protection of lives and property”.

Holness, however, pledged that there will be consultations with stakeholders and adequate public notice before any of the measures are imposed.

“We ask the public to cooperate,” he urged.

The announcement comes as the latest forecast by the Meteorological Service (Met Service) show that the slow-moving storm will likely develop into a powerful Category 3 or 4 hurricane this weekend, but likely avoid a direct hit on Jamaica.

Evan Thompson, Principal Director of the Met Service, said the storm, which developed over the central Caribbean Sea earlier this week, is forecasted to continue moving westward before a turn to the northwest and later the northeast, “passing the west coast of Jamaica”.

“So it seems that Jamaica is highly protected at this time by the almighty because the system will move towards us and then we expect that it will move around us rather than moving directly over the island”, Thompson told reporters during the special press briefing.

However, noting that Melissa is moving about two kilometres per hour, he cautioned that this could change based on “how other climate features orient themselves”.

“That could make a big difference as the track progresses. If high pressures move out of certain areas and low pressures move in or out, then we could have a complete change in the track that is projected for this system,” Thompson explained.

- Livern Barrett

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