NEPA to spotlight disaster-resilient communities on World Town Planning Day

As Jamaica continues its recovery from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will use its observance of World Town Planning Day on November 8 to focus national attention on building disaster-resilient communities.

Under the theme, ‘From Recovery to Resilience: Planning for a Stronger Jamaica’, the agency will host a national forum and conduct school outreach activities to highlight the role of effective town and country planning in advancing sustainable development and building resilience.

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the Spatial Planning and Management Division at NEPA, Gregory Bennett, told JIS News that this year’s observance underscores the need to move beyond simply rebuilding after disasters and place greater emphasis on strengthening long-term resilience.