Golding slams slow Hurricane Melissa recovery, calls for greater accountability one year later

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has criticised the pace of recovery efforts in western Jamaica, arguing that thousands of families affected by Hurricane Melissa are still awaiting assistance one year after the catastrophic storm devastated sections of the island.

In a message marking the first anniversary of the hurricane on Wednesday, October 28, Golding accused the Government of failing to deliver timely relief to affected residents, particularly those who remain without adequate housing and support to rebuild their livelihoods.

The category five hurricane made landfall at New Hope in Westmoreland on October 28, 2025, leaving widespread destruction across several western parishes.