Sun | Nov 16, 2025

Gov’t exploring GIS geo-tagging to boost Hurricane Melissa response

Published:Friday | November 14, 2025 | 4:41 PM
Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness (centre), addressing stakeholders during a meeting at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in St Andrew on November 12. Participating in the session are ODPEM Director General, Commander Alv
JIS News
Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness (centre), addressing stakeholders during a meeting at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in St Andrew on November 12. Participating in the session are ODPEM Director General, Commander Alvin Gayle (second right), and former Acting Director General, Richard Thompson (right).

The Government is exploring the use of geographic information system (GIS) geo-tagging technology to enhance its ongoing response to Hurricane Melissa.

The solution was discussed during a stakeholder meeting with Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness, held at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in St Andrew on Wednesday.

Holness noted that as the Government continues to support impacted communities, the focus remains on ensuring a response that is efficient, data-driven, and compassionate.

“We should take the opportunity to, once and for all, build a robust disaster management institution and infrastructure, so that we will always have full situational awareness, regardless of the type of disaster that occurs,” he emphasised.

The Prime Minister pointed out that achieving full situational awareness requires the deployment of appropriate technologies, including GIS.

“Almost every entity in government uses geographic information systems in some way, shape, or form. The challenge is how do we bring all of that together… the bits and pieces of information… to create a full picture of the disaster situation,” Holness explained.

He emphasised that “a joint collaborative effort” must be employed to “bring to bear, GIS on managing the disaster”.

Holness outlined that the use of GIS technology will enable the Government to pinpoint areas of greatest need, monitor resource distribution in real time, and ensure that operations remain both targeted and transparent.

He highlighted that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) would benefit from GIS mapping technology to enhance post-Hurricane Melissa waste-collection efforts.

“One of the things I want… is for you to get in touch with NSWMA and help them to set up their GIS system, because a part of the disaster management is debris management,” the Prime Minister instructed ODPEM’s Director General, Commander Alvin Gayle.

In his remarks, Commander Gayle noted that the agency has begun addressing the need for full situational awareness of affected communities, with support from the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

- JIS News

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