With the start of the Atlantic hurricane season only days away, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has urged Jamaicans to begin preparations at once, rather than waiting until a storm threatens the island, to prune trees and clear drains.

Invoking the devastation of Hurricane Melissa as a cautionary tale, Holness warned against complacency and said preparedness must be an immediate priority. He was speaking on Monday (Labour Day) at the Lewis Town Early Childhood Institution in Brompton, St Elizabeth.

“This Labour Day bears a specific importance because it is the Labour Day after Hurricane Melissa, but, in a few more days, it will also be the hurricane season,” said Holness, noting that the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.