Tag Archive for: Poverty in Jamaica

Posts

, ,

Vocational Education Centers in Jamaica Tackle Unemployment

Vocational Education Centers in Jamaica

Jamaica needs skilled workers while simultaneously struggling with educational outcomes and youth unemployment. Vocational education training centers in Jamaica are instrumental in bridging this gap and can support the reduction of unemployment and drive economic growth and development. However, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has its potential limited by social stigma, inadequate funding and a disconnect between training and labor market needs.

Vocational education training centers in Jamaica offer practical, job-specific training and technical skills, which can provide a direct route into industries experiencing skills shortages. Existing centers include the St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre, which opened in 2022. However, simply increasing the number of vocational education training centers in Jamaica does not address the wider challenges facing a country where educational outcomes and youth employment remain challenges.  

TVET needs to become a more consistent and significant force in elevating people out of poverty. UNESCO’s International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean has identified some barriers TVET needs to overcome to become more effective.

The Issues Facing TVET in Jamaica

These include a disconnect between educational provision and labor market demand. Insufficient collaboration between training between providers and the targeted industry causes this.

Many people have historically seen TVET subjects as being for students who did not have success on the traditional educational path. Due to this, people have long seen TVET subjects as only for those who are good with their hands.

Jamaican children also struggle to transition between education levels. People have often called the effectiveness of education into question. Nationally, in 2025, only 19.2% of students passed Math, English and three other subjects. The low pass rate emphasizes that despite Jamaican children completing on average 11.7 years of schooling, according to a 2021 Public Expenditure Review on Education that UNICEF and the World Bank conducted, they only gain 7.2 years of quality learning.

Underinvestment in vocational education training centers in Jamaica can leave centers reliant on outdated equipment. Therefore, students do not have the skills that a modern labor market requires. Addressing these barriers is essential if TVET is to reach its potential as a pathway out of poverty.

How Jamaica Is Addressing These Issues

In 2025, the Institute of Vocational Education and Skills Training (INVEST) announced a collaboration with the TUI Care Foundation to launch the TUI Academy. The academy is based in Montego Bay, where youth unemployment and skills shortage coexist with the city’s importance to Jamaica’s tourism industry. The program is a response to a shortage of skilled labor in the tourism and hospitality industry. Combining theory with life skills like conflict management and substance abuse prevention has meant 70% of program graduates are expected to secure employment.

In 2023, the Ministry of Education announced that it is taking steps to introduce TVET at the primary level. According to The Global Economy in 2024, 97.3% of eligible children were enrolled in primary education, which is the largest enrolment rate for any education level in Jamaica. With children and parents introduced to it earlier, the idea that academic subjects and TVET are equal will grow. At a more systemic level, Fayval Williams, the previous education minister, said legislation changes would allow the University Council of Jamaica to give TVET courses the same accreditation as their academic counterparts.

A study that Dr. Paul Andrew Bourne conducted in 2025 with 500 TVET students showed that TVET courses reportedly mitigate academic underperformance. The results of this study showed that 62% of students reported improved literacy skills and 67% reported enhanced numeracy through integrated vocational training. These results suggest that vocational education training centers in Jamaica may be key to unlocking a path to a better quality of education for students and better retention of academic subject knowledge.

The government of Jamaica recently announced more than $400 million to strengthen TVET delivery across primary and secondary schools. There has also been a further $400 million earmarked to retrofit technical high schools with new and emerging laboratories. Furthermore, in June 2026, the HEART/NSTA (Human Employment and Resource training/National service training agency trust) announced through a Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) initiative that three courses will be available online with a minimum of 10 more to be digitized by 2027. The pilot of this initiative received funding from the German development agency GIZ.

The Success of These Measures

Despite the challenges TVET has faced, the programs have shown promising results. Since 2020, the HEART/NSTA Trust has provided skills training for more than 550,000 young people. Further consistent investment in vocational education centers in Jamaica could be an important route into employment for young people.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announcement that the Jamaican government will remove fees for all programs that the HEART/NSTA Trust provided up to level 5 in the 2026/27 fiscal year is indicative of the steps Jamaica is taking in its fight against poverty and unemployment. Jamaica’s investment in TVET, its partnership with international organizations to provide education for in-demand industries and its alignment of TVET with more traditional education forms from primary school is making vocational education less stigmatized, more accessible and more affordable. Jamaica’s efforts demonstrate that TVET can be more than an alternative educational pathway: it can be an investment in economic mobility.

– Malachi Thompson

Malachi is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Spanish Town Hospital and Prostate Cancer in Jamaica

Prostate Cancer in JamaicaSpanish Town Hospital’s urology department recently celebrated its fifth anniversary on June 28, 2026, with new equipment. This equipment will help serve the severe need for health infrastructure to support patients with prostate cancer in Jamaica.

A Generous Anniversary

Spanish Town Hospital is located in St. Catherine, Jamaica’s fastest-growing parish. It serves patients from Kingston and St. Andrew, as well as parts of Clarendon, St. Mary and St. Ann. It is one of 24 public hospitals on the island.

In celebration of its anniversary, the urology department received equipment for detecting and treating prostate cancer. The Jamaican National Health Fund and private companies generously supported the department and paid for the lifesaving equipment. Donors gave Spanish Town Hospital new equipment, including an advanced ultrasound machine, prostate biopsy machine and prostate biopsy gun.

This equipment is critical for Jamaicans given the high rate of prostate cancer on the island. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Jamaican men, accounting for 38.5% of new cancer cases among men in 2024. Prostate cancer is also the leading cause of cancer deaths among Jamaican men. In 2024 alone, Jamaica recorded 1,394 new cases of prostate cancer and 809 deaths.

Cost

Screening for prostate cancer and catching the disease in its earliest stages is one of the easiest ways to prevent cancer deaths. However, researchers most often cite socioeconomic factors as the reason many Jamaicans do not get screened for prostate cancer. As socioeconomic status rises, so does screening for prostate cancer. Early detection of prostate cancer is also positively correlated with socioeconomic status. This means those in poverty face the highest risk of late detection, and therefore death.

Furthering the disparity, Jamaica splits its health care system into private and public services. Generally, private hospitals have shorter waiting times, more resources and better-qualified personnel. As socioeconomic status increases, so does use of private health care systems. Private hospitals, and therefore the best screening for prostate cancer in Jamaica, are too expensive for those in poverty to access.

World Bank data from 2021 lists 16.7% of the population as below the Jamaican national poverty line. That represents more than a sixth of the population unable to access the lifesaving technology found in private hospitals. These Jamaicans also cannot get preventative testing for deadly prostate cancer.

Good News

Spanish Town is a public hospital that now has the capabilities to help those in poverty receive screening and treatment for prostate cancer.

Dr. Elon Thompson, the leader of the urology department, told the Jamaica Gleaner the new equipment fills “one of the key missing components” in treating patients. He added that it will help the department diagnose prostate cancer earlier.

This equipment upgrade is part of an effort to turn the 70-year-old hospital into a modern center of health care. Officials estimate the renovations will cost 5.5 billion Jamaican dollars, or about $347.8 million. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is financially supporting the government of Jamaica to cover the cost. The IDB funds development throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and it receives a large share of its own operating budget from the United States.

– Isabella Law

Isabella is based in Pilesgrove, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Facts About Child Marriage in Jamaica

Child Marriage in JamaicaOne in four girls across the Caribbean marry or enter early unions before the age of 18. This highlights the widespread impact child marriage continues to have on education, health and economic opportunity throughout the region. In Jamaica, the issue remains significant, yet there is commitment to combating it. Child marriage also contributes to cycles of poverty by increasing the likelihood that girls leave school early, limiting future employment opportunities and long-term economic stability.

A study from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Caribbean explains that women and girls who marry at 18 or younger are more likely to experience physical or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. According to the study, 47% of women and girls married at 18 or below experience IPV.

Child Marriage in Jamaica by the Numbers

Under the Marriage Act 1979, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years old. With parental consent, individuals can marry at 16 years old. According to Girls Not Brides, 14,700 girls and women in Jamaica marry by the age of 15, while 102,900 marry before the age of 18.

Gender inequality drives child, early, and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU). Poverty, education levels and religion all influence CEFMU in Jamaica. Around 15% of women from Jamaica’s poorest households married or entered a union before the age of 18, compared to 4% from the richest households. Approximately 11% of women with no education or primary education married or entered a union as children, compared to only 3% who had completed tertiary education. These disparities demonstrate how child marriage and poverty reinforce one another. Limited education reduces future employment opportunities, while poverty increases the likelihood of early marriage.

How Jamaica Is Working to End Child Marriage

Jamaica has committed to ending child, early and forced marriage by 2030. The country has adopted several child-friendly policies to protect children and strengthen families. Jamaica has established several initiatives, including the Office of the Children’s Advocate, a commission of parliament that enforces and protects children’s rights. The Office of the Children’s Advocate investigates complaints involving children’s rights, monitors government agencies and advocates for stronger protections for children across Jamaica. The Ministry of Education launched the National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence in 2019. It aims to address violence against children, child abuse and maltreatment of children over a five-year period. Together, these initiatives help strengthen child protection systems and increase awareness of children’s rights to reduce risks that contribute to child marriage.

Jamaica’s Commitment to Protecting Girls

Jamaica is one of several Latin America and Caribbean countries to ratify a key human rights convention to reinforce the need for action on this issue. Jamaica ratified the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Through these treaties, the country has committed to improving laws, policies and programs that promote gender equality and protect children.

For young girls and women, child marriage can have devastating consequences such as health challenges and interrupted education. Early pregnancies are common in these situations and can lead to complications and health issues for both the mother and child. Many girls leave school after they marry. This limits their future opportunities and makes it more difficult to escape poverty or achieve long-term financial stability.

Awareness campaigns play a crucial role in educating communities about the significance of safeguarding children’s rights. Including local leaders to shift perceptions and beliefs on the incidence of child marriage and early unions can uproot change. Providing girls with educational access also empowers them to make informed decisions about their futures. These efforts help keep girls in school, expand future economic opportunities and reduce the conditions that contribute to poverty.

The Power of Advocacy

Activists play a substantial role in combating child marriage and early unions. The voices of those advocating for the rights of young women and girls create movements leading to change. Listening to those affected and amplifying their voices is just one step toward major change.

Child marriage and early unions are a violation of human rights. Continuing efforts to combat this issue in Jamaica are underway, but the fight continues. Every year, thousands of girls in Jamaica enter marriage or informal unions before turning 18, putting their education, health and future opportunities at risk. Jamaica can build on the progress it has already made to protect girls and strengthen communities by working together and prioritizing the rights of Jamaican children and families. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up free from the fear of early marriage, complete their education and pursue a future free from poverty.

– India Hairston

India is based in Malvern, PA, USA and focuses on Good News, and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

How Unpaid Care Work in Jamaica Shapes Economic Opportunity

unpaid care work in JamaicaWhen conversations turn to economic growth, discussions often center on job creation, trade or investment. However, one of the most significant contributors to a nation’s economy rarely appears in economic statistics: unpaid caregiving. Every day, millions of workers spend hours caring for children, older adults and family members without compensation. One of the most overlooked limitations of economic growth, like in many countries, is the unpaid care work in Jamaica. In particular, women shoulder the majority of this work due to unfair and dated gender norms, limiting their ability to participate fully in the labor force and affecting the country’s broader economic development.

Understanding Unpaid Caregiving

Unpaid caregiving includes raising children, preparing meals, cleaning the home and caring for elderly or sick relatives. While these responsibilities are essential to families and communities, they can be taxing for the caregivers themselves. Interviews conducted with unpaid family caregivers have highlighted the financial and emotional burden of balancing caregiving with work. Some caregivers reported reducing their work hours or leaving employment altogether to care for relatives, while others described the stress of managing caregiving responsibilities with little outside support. Their experiences illustrate how unpaid care can shape economic opportunity in everyday life.

The burden of unpaid care work falls especially heavily on low-income households. According to the World Bank’s 2025 Jamaica Poverty Assessment, persistent gender norms continue to limit women’s economic participation, making it harder for many families to escape poverty.

Impact on Women

For many Jamaican women, the challenges are not simply theoretical. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 80% of unpaid caregivers were women. The responsibilities of unpaid caregiving often come at the expense of women’s educational and professional opportunities. Time spent providing care is time that cannot be spent earning an income, pursuing additional training or advancing in a career.

The gender imbalance is strikingly consistent in Jamaica. According to the World Bank’s Jamaica Gender Assessment, Jamaican women spend 18.1% of each day on unpaid household and care work, compared with 8.2% for men. This disparity limits women’s time for paid employment, career advancement and income generation. These unequal caregiving responsibilities contribute to lower labor force participation among women, fewer opportunities for full-time employment and persistent gender gaps in earnings.

Broader Economic Consequences

The consequences of unpaid care work in Jamaica extend far beyond individual households. When women face barriers to employment because of caregiving responsibilities, families lose income, businesses lose skilled workers and the country loses productive economic potential. The International Labour Organization has emphasized that reducing unequal unpaid care responsibilities can increase women’s participation in the workforce and promote more inclusive economic growth.

These findings are echoed across the Caribbean. Researchers have found that women throughout the region continue to perform the vast majority of unpaid domestic work, despite increasing participation in education and the workforce. As a result, many women experience what experts describe as a “double burden,” balancing paid employment with extensive unpaid responsibilities at home, usually unaided by their male counterparts or other members of the household.

Shifting Perspectives

While statistics demonstrate the broader economic effects of unpaid caregiving, lived experiences are constantly shifting, hopefully toward improvement. In an interview with the International Women’s Forum, First Global Bank President Maureen Hayden-Cater reflected on gender equality, saying progress “happens when women and men have access to the same opportunities to be successful.” She added that while gender bias has not disappeared entirely, she believes the next generation, including her own daughters, will face a lower barrier than she did.

Policy and Development

Recognizing the value of unpaid care work in Jamaica is becoming an increasingly important part of development policy. International organizations, including the World Bank, the International Labour Organization and UN Women, argue that investments in affordable childcare, paid family leave and flexible work arrangements can help reduce barriers to women’s employment. Expanding access to quality childcare, for example, benefits working parents. It also strengthens labor markets and supports long-term economic growth because aiding parents with childcare allows them to participate more fully in the workforce.

Jamaica has already taken steps toward promoting gender equality through national gender policies and programs designed to improve women’s economic participation. However, experts note that continued investment in caregiving infrastructure and social support services could help more women enter or remain in the workforce while reducing poverty among families.

The World Bank, in partnership with the Government of Jamaica and the Government of Canada, launched the Jamaica Gender Assessment to identify barriers to women’s economic participation. The report highlights unequal unpaid care responsibilities and recommends actionable steps like expanding childcare services and workplace policies that enable more women to participate in the labor force.

Experts also emphasize that unpaid caregiving should not be viewed solely as a women’s issue. Care work sustains households, enables children to learn and allows older adults and people with disabilities to receive essential support. Recognizing its economic value can help policymakers design more effective labor, education and social protection policies that benefit entire communities.

Future Opportunities

As the country continues pursuing sustainable and inclusive economic growth, addressing unpaid care work in Jamaica will remain an important part of expanding opportunity. By recognizing care work, investing in services that support caregivers and creating policies that make it easier for women to balance family and employment responsibilities, Jamaica can unlock economic potential that has long gone unrecognized. Supporting caregivers is not only a matter of equality, though that is more than enough of a reason, but also an investment in sustainable development and economic growth.

Momentum is already building. As Jamaica continues expanding gender equality initiatives and international organizations increase support for childcare, labor protections and social services, policymakers have growing opportunities to reduce unpaid care burdens while strengthening economic resilience. Continued investment in caregivers could help thousands more women participate fully in the workforce while reducing poverty for families across the country.

– Gia Sen

Gia is based in Mansfield, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

,

Disaster Relief in Jamaica Acts Fast Following Hurricane Melissa

Disaster Relief in JamaicaHurricane Melissa impacted several countries across the Caribbean, including Jamaica. Melissa first made contact with New Hope, Jamaica, off its west coast on October 28, 2025, and caused mass devastation and destruction across the island. By that time, Melissa had become a Category 5 storm, which is the most severe and dangerous designation for hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The National Hurricane Center (NHC( approximates the winds of Category 5 storms to reach 157 mph or higher and cause the following catastrophic damage:

“A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months,” NHC stated.

Response

The U.S. promptly responded to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa; President Trump authorized the Department of State to send immediate disaster relief in Jamaica to support the country’s most impacted communities. Secretary Rubio deployed urban search-and-rescue squads from a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team within hours of Melissa’s ending.

Other foreign-aid relief efforts include the State Department and U.N. joint deliveries of essential supplies, including food and water, medical and hygiene supplies and temporary shelters. The Government of Jamaica has also established a dedicated relief fund for the devastation.

Economy

In 2024, Jamaica’s economy had made significant strides towards improvement; the rate of public debt decreased from 140% in 2012 to 64.9% in 2024. However, the impacts of Hurricane Melissa in 2025 and those of Hurricane Beryl in 2024 destabilized this progress. In anticipation of Hurricane Melissa making contact with the island, Jamaica put several measures in place to soften the economic disruption it would bring about. These pre-crisis measures include widespread macroeconomic management, disciplined fiscal policy ratification, and multi-layer disaster risk financing.

Relief Efforts

In the fall of 2025, disaster relief in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa became a focus of many non-profits. Red Lightning, a disaster aid NGO, delivered generators and Starlink units to reinstate communication across the island and internationally.

Groups like All Hands & Hearts, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Salvation Army mobilized to conduct evacuations, prepared for cleanup and recovery efforts, and supported local readiness through providing supplies to about 60,000 impacted households across Jamaica.

In addition, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and the World Central Kitchen (WCK) donated thousands of meals to Jamaican evacuees, first responders, and other impacted communities across the Caribbean.

The Future

Jamaica’s economy is still at risk of suffering long-term effects from Hurricane Melissa. The country’s main industries are tourism and agriculture. The widespread catastrophic damage that Melissa caused put these industries at risk; Jamaica is reliant on the steady stream of tourists and its ability to farm and export produce.

The aftermath of Melissa severely threatened both of these industries. More specifically, the storm killed 32 people and negatively impacted an estimated 1.5 million of the country’s 2.8 million total population. Despite the degree of destruction caused by the storm and the economic precarity left in its wake, the rapid disaster relief in Jamaica is a testament to the networks of support that came together following the strongest Atlantic hurricane to ever strike the island. These relief efforts bode well for Jamaica’s ability to swiftly recover and heal following Melissa’s devastating impact.

– Natalie Naylor

Natalie is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Sprinting Legends Are Helping to Alleviate Poverty in Jamaica

Poverty in JamaicaJamaica is widely celebrated as the sprinting capital of the world and for good reason. The nation has seen historic track dominance from icons like Veronica Campbell-Brown, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Yohan Blake, who collectively hold 28 Olympic medals. For these athletes, sport was a powerful gateway out of generational poverty. Through commercial endorsements and prize winnings, they translated their raw talent into bright economic futures. Their global success has also acted as a major economic mechanism for Jamaica, boosting its vital tourism industry that now contributes $4.5 billion to the Jamaican economy.

However, strict reliance on industries like tourism and agriculture, accounting for more than one-third of all Jamaican jobs according to the World Bank, leaves the economy vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns. This became evident in 2025, when Hurricane Melissa left a lasting impression on the economy, disrupting agriculture and challenging poverty reduction efforts in Jamaica. Reports from the UNDP noted damages amounting to 30% of Jamaica’s GDP, resulting in many vulnerable populations being forced to once again walk the poverty line.

With these economic challenges in mind, Jamaica’s track legends are stepping up to build stronger socioeconomic foundations for their homeland. Beyond boosting national tourism, the grassroots foundations founded by these sprinters are actively investing in the long-term economic resilience of the nation’s most vulnerable communities.

Usain Bolt Foundation

Established by world-record holder Bolt in 2009, this foundation aims to create sustainable opportunities for Jamaican youth through education and cultural development. The organization focuses heavily on enhancing early childhood and primary education by equipping underfunded schools with essential digital technology. Through targeted financial injections, the foundation regularly funds rural schools to sponsor athletic programs and supply critical sporting equipment. Most notably, in 2025, a donation totaling J$6.1 million (about $10,100) was divided among six rural high schools to support the ISSA Boys and Girls Athletics Championships.

The foundation’s proactive approach became vital following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. Partnering with global organizations such as Puma and World Vision, the Usain Bolt Foundation quickly mobilized to distribute food kits, school bags and hygiene supplies to families in the hardest-hit rural communities. Furthermore, the foundation provided direct rehabilitation grants to damaged schools, accelerating the return to normal classroom learning. By securing access to quality education and physical recreation, Bolt’s foundation helps generations of young Jamaicans overcome economic hardships. In the long term, higher levels of education foster a highly skilled, diverse workforce, reducing poverty and ultimately equipping the economy in Jamaica to better withstand future natural disasters.

The Pocket Rocket Foundation

Founded by Olympic icon Fraser-Pryce in 2013, the Pocket Rocket Foundation focuses its investments on secondary education and financial support for promising young athletes. Established with the belief that financial barriers should never compromise a child’s future, the foundation provides full academic scholarships so talented student-athletes do not have to choose between their education, their sport and basic survival. By securing these vital athletic and academic pathways, the organization empowers young people to become the next generation of Jamaican sports leaders. This structural support opens up crucial opportunities for international university scholarships and commercial sponsorships, paving a sustainable way out of generational poverty in Jamaica.

YB Afraid Foundation

Blake’s YB Afraid Foundation, established in 2011, provides targeted support to children’s homes, directly addressing the needs of some of the most vulnerable individuals in Jamaica. The foundation aims to uplift children who have suffered from abuse and homelessness, funding facilities that provide safety as well as a place for children to learn and play. To date, the foundation has completely adopted three children’s homes in Jamaica: the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home (Manchester), the Pringle Home (St. Mary) and the Jamaica Baptist Union Garland Hall Memorial Children’s Home (Anchovy). This active initiative directly provides comprehensive care, clothing and educational tool funding for more than 50 children. With strategic plans already underway to expand this protective umbrella to seven homes nationwide, the foundation offers a much brighter, secure future to vulnerable children who might otherwise face severe socioeconomic hardships.

The VCB Foundation

The Campbell-Brown Foundation, founded in 2011, uses a multi-tiered approach focusing on educational empowerment, structured life-coaching and community health. Through its signature Educational Empowerment Scholarship program, the foundation fully funds underrepresented young women from their entry into high school through to graduation. Additionally, the foundation partners directly with the Jamaica Ministry of Health and Wellness to host an Annual Back to School Health and Wellness Fair. This recurring initiative provides hundreds of families in deeply underserved communities with free medical screenings, essential health education and vital wellness packages, ensuring a healthy foundation for academic success.

By mobilizing their global athletic success, these four track legends are creating a blueprint for overcoming the structural barriers to poverty in Jamaica. Through targeted education, community empowerment and youth support in sport, their respective foundations are helping to build a more economically stable and secure society. Ultimately, the true greatness of the nation is not just measured by how fast its people can run, but by how many individuals they carry across the finish line with them.

– Jessica Daly

Jessica is based in Tunbridge Wells, UK and focuses on Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Misconceptions About Poverty in Jamaica

Poverty in JamaicaOn October 28, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica. A few days earlier, several American news outlets visited the country to report on the developing situation firsthand. The events sparked fear across different countries but also ignited aid from these sources. In addition, Jamaicans united in the aftermath rather than being in isolation. Here is information about hurricane relief, poverty and misconceptions about poverty in Jamaica.

Hurricane Relief 

The government of Jamaica is working tirelessly to provide relief to communities across the island. Hurricane Melissa cost more than a trillion dollars in damages, which has impacted sources of income, such as tourism. The hardest-hit parishes, like St. Elizabeth and Hanover, received the largest aid packages of $10 million each. The remaining constituencies received between $3 million and $5 million due to the minimal damage. The representatives of each constituency had the tasks of allocating these funds to communities in need and pressing issues. The prime minister made it clear that these funds are to aid the immediate aftermath rather than in the long term. Otherwise, the country has received billions in aid from outside organizations and countries it has relationships with like the United States.

The United States and Canada have pledged $22 million and $11 million, respectively, in funds to Jamaica post-hurricane. These funds included search teams, emergency needs like food and water and the establishment of shelters. Even though the hurricane hit the Caribbean, countries like Guyana and the Dominican Republic donated tons of water and various materials like generators and tarpaulins. Large companies like T-Mobile and Walt Disney Company committed to the recovery efforts by donating both to the government and aiding the people directly.

Poverty in Jamaica

One misconception about poverty in Jamaica is that it persists across the island. Recent reports show this is not the case. In fact, in May 2025, the Jamaican government reported a record-low poverty rate, noting that poverty fell from 16.7% in 2021 to less than 9% in 2023. The government has shown a continued commitment toward improving the quality of life for every Jamaican on the island. Jamaica’s government has taken action to address poverty in Jamaica, including social investments, job creation and economic programs, to continue decreasing the country’s poverty level.

Another misconception is that Caribbean countries lack the knowledge or resources to prepare for extreme weather events. However, there has been a lack of research conducted into the country and the materials used to build houses. Houses in Jamaica are largely constructed with cement blocks and steel, which are far more resistant to extreme weather conditions than wood or drywall. Newer homes are also built under updated building codes that require reinforced cement and hurricane shutters.

Final Remarks

Despite the fears ignited by unprecedented events of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaicans continue to rebuild and pour into the island they love. Jamaica is a country that surpasses the outside opinions. Its government continues to take action to improve the quality of life and stand strong in the face of disasters.

– Nickaylia Anderson

Nickaylia is based in Syracuse, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Caribbean Resilience after Natural Disasters

Caribbean Resilience after Natural DisastersCaribbean islands are frequently witnessing hurricanes, floods, droughts, earthquakes and landslides. On October 28, Jamaica witnessed its first Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Melissa, which brought devastating storm surge, flash flooding and landslides across Jamaica and nearby islands. The rapid intensification of the hurricane caused an estimated damage of more than $48 billion across Jamaica, Cuba, and The Bahamas and 75 total deaths in Jamaica and Haiti.

The widespread devastation consisted of roofs torn off, mudslides, and flooded farmland. Also, 70% of the population lost electricity. In response, local authorities issued nationwide red alerts and opened 800 emergency shelters. The Red Cross mobilized volunteers for evacuations, relief distribution, and reinforcing warnings. This is how sustainable rebuilding and early-action systems are transforming the Caribbean resilience after natural disasters.

Context and Vulnerability of the Caribbean Islands

Local communities frequently struggle with natural disasters since seven out of every 10 natural events in the Caribbean are storms or floods.

After the catastrophic damages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the Caribbean region developed stronger regional cooperation and investment in disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. Initiatives like the Caribbean Regional Resilience Building Facility (CRRBF) joined by the European Union, GFDRR, and the World Bank, work to improve long-term disaster resilience and adaptation capacity for vulnerable areas of the region. Key national and regional strategies include strengthening early warning systems, investing in modern weather forecasting and building resilient infrastructure.

In the context of Caribbean countries facing natural disasters, vulnerable populations are the most affected. As of 2025, one in four people live in poverty in these regions and 37% of the population is moderately/severely food insecure. Food insecurity comes from a high cost of food and the majority of it being imported. Moreover, Caribbean economies are small and tourism-dependent and their energy costs are among the highest globally.

Also, post-disaster recovery often leads to debt and internal displacement of communities. For instance, 10 million people faced displacement from 2008 to 2023 due to natural disasters. In addition, climate damages could rise from 5% of regional GDP in 2025 to more than 20% by 2100.

Many studies and reports have shown that to strengthen the economic well-being of Caribbean communities it is vital to assist policymakers and development partners in planning for climate resilience, promoting economic diversification, and facilitating access to financing.

Jamaica

Good examples of Caribbean resilience after natural disasters are the Community-Based Disaster Preparedness partnered with UNICEF and ODPEM, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. Following Hurricane Beryl in 2024 these programs distributed 400 (water, sanitation and hygiene) WASH Shelter Kits to emergency shelters with a value of J$14.8 million.

Specifically, the ODPEM represents the national disaster management authority and was formed in July 1980, following major floods in 1979. The institution incorporates community resilience, educational initiatives, and policy reforms within national disaster risk reduction strategies.

The UNDP also supports risk-informed development and improves disaster governance by encouraging community-level engagement.

Dominica

In 2017, Hurricane Maria destroyed 90% of Dominica’s housing, demolishing 4,500 homes  and damaging more than 20,000 properties.

Consequently, the World Bank funded a $40 million house recovery project Build Back Better Housing Project in the island. It established a Management Information System to manage nationwide housing recovery data and delivered practical training on resilient building techniques to local contractors and government staff.

The program also rebuilt 676 small homes and donated financial grants and technical assistance to homeowners.

Haiti

A significant example of community resilience happened in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake that caused massive destruction. The local communities worked on rebuilding roads, homes, and public facilities. For instance, the construction of almost 600 classrooms created local employment.

Haitian institutions and citizens joined forces in the development of housing and infrastructure. They managed to achieve sustainable recovery by involving civil society organizations and local communities in decision-making and providing training and employment for the reconstruction process. The Red Cross Red Crescent also partnered with the Haitian Red Cross to provide improved shelters to more than 44,000 households.

As a result, local leadership and national ownership created more than 300,000 jobs, providing training to 2,700 Haitian professionals. Most importantly, 2,000 metres of gabion walls were constructed for disaster risk reduction.

The Impact of Caribbean Resilience after Natural Disasters

The Caribbean islands have seen 24 million people feel the impacts of natural disasters in the last 40 years and an 85% increase in extreme weather events. However, the World Bank and the U.N., as well as local initiatives, have been funding projects that integrate long-term resilience into recovery.

The centre of these projects involves education, capacity building, and institutional strengthening to achieve long-term resilience. As a result, Caribbean islands are not only recovering but also building back stronger than ever.

– Angela D’Avino

Angela is based in Preston, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Amazon’s Disaster Relief Hubs and Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts

Amazon's disaster relief hubsThe world is currently in the midst of hurricane season and Hurricane Melissa, a category five storm, hit the island of Jamaica hard. Hurricane Mellisa has killed many people and displaced many more. However, some major corporations have contributed to the Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. Here’s a look at the impact Hurricane Melissa has had on Jamaica, as well as some of the relief efforts underway in response to it.

Hurricane Melissa’s Impact

A recent NBC News report stated that Hurricane Melissa killed 32 people in Jamaica and described it as the most devastating storm ever to make landfall in the country. The British Red Cross also noted that more than 30,000 Jamaicans have been displaced, with the number rising daily. Hurricane Melissa’s financial toll is also being felt throughout Jamaica.

According to a recent report by Reuters, the storm could cost Jamaica as much as $7 billion, a conservative estimate. Experts say that all totaled, Hurricane Mellisa could cause a 30% drop in Jamaica’s GDP, severely weakening its economy.

How Amazon Is Helping

In 2021, Amazon opened its first disaster relief hub in Atlanta, Georgia. It subsequently built 14 additional disaster relief hubs, strategically placed in areas prone to disasters, to assist with a variety of natural disasters. According to WSB-TV Atlanta, the Amazon disaster relief hub in the city is sending emergency supplies to Jamaica. These include a range of portable technology solutions designed to power and connect hospitals, police stations and emergency operations in Jamaica.

The hub can deploy up to 1.4 million pre-packaged relief items within 72 hours of a natural disaster. According to Amazon’s website, its disaster relief hubs are stocked with muck and gut kits to help with flooding, hygiene kits to keep people clean and sensory kits to help children who may be overwhelmed by staying in shelters. These kits provide them with noise-canceling headphones, a weighted blanket and toys.

The WSB-TV Atlanta report also notes that since launching in 2021, Amazon’s disaster relief hubs have supported more than 190 disaster zones. Additionally, they have delivered more than 26 million relief items.

Conclusion

Hurricane Melissa has had a devastating impact on Jamaica — one that will be felt for years to come. However, relief efforts from Amazon’s disaster relief hubs, as well as collaboration with a host of nonprofits, are expected to strengthen recovery efforts. Furthermore, efforts will help to ensure that displaced residents have homes to return to.

– Charlie Means

Charlie is based in Denver, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

, ,

Being Poor in Jamaica: The Hashtag Aiding Jamaica’s Recovery

Being Poor in JamaicaIn the wake of a monstrous category 5 storm making its way to the shores of Jamaica, a growing 11,000 hashtags of support, #PrayForJamaica, have flooded Instagram, turning awareness into action around the world. As the people from the land of wood and water begin the long road to recovery from one of the strongest hurricanes to strike the island in the 21st century, a more vulnerable population on the island falls prey to the storm’s devastating aftermath. Being poor in Jamaica during the recovery of Hurricane Melissa extends beyond poverty measured by income, revealing deep-seated inequalities in health care, education and basic living conditions that the hurricane has exposed in its wake.

The Extensive Damage of Hurricane Melissa

When a category five hurricane washes up on a country’s shore, it does not just arrive with its share of catastrophic rains and howling winds. Instead, the insatiable storm consumes everything in its path, including the lives of families, homes and communities forced to rebuild from the wreckage. After one of the worst natural disasters to hit Jamaica, the Caribbean island looks a lot different from before the devastating storm took its toll on the coastal region. What once was a tropical paradise celebrated for its divine beauty and vibrant culture now sits underwater, stagnant in the remains of one of the strongest hurricanes to strike the island in the 21st century.

With at least 32 reported lives lost on the island, and estimated catastrophic loss between $2.2 billion and $4.2 billion USD in damages, entire communities have been demolished, leaving many families without a place to call home.

Jamaican influencer One Love Jamaica took to his YouTube channel to document Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic damage across the island. Departing from his usual content of giving viewers a taste of Jamaican culture, food and music, the man behind One Love Jamaica spoke to his more than 19,000 followers with a new message. In a Skyview camera-mounted video peering over one of the most affected regions on Jamaica’s southern coast, St. Elizabeth’s parish, the native-born creator narrates, “Many residents here are trapped inside their own communities, watching the world behind a wall of water they cannot cross,” solemnly adding that, “People are waking up every day to uncertainty, unsure of what the future holds for a place they call home.” This storm has left an unimaginable loss throughout the community, however, even in the midst of the chaos, hope persists for brighter days ahead.

Being Poor in Jamaica

Even before the storm struck, Jamaica faced economic instability with a global poverty report revealing that “nearly 79,000 Jamaicans, which is about 2.8% of the population, were already living in multidimensional poverty, surviving on less than $3 USD a day.” Hurdles to necessities have only intensified with Hurricane Melissa, making poverty and natural disasters an entangled issue for those struggling to stay afloat under its weight.

Speaking with a resident of St. Elizabeth, One Love Jamaica provided insight into the personal struggles facing impoverished islanders. Against the background of the storm’s devastation, resident Ann-Marie McDonald-Samon shares her story with the audience: “During this storm, my house has been damaged, the roof is gone, and the clothing. I am asking Jamaica, or those who have not been affected by the storm, if they can send some assistance to us.” As the camera pans across the community, it is evident that Ann-Marie’s struggle is not one she bears alone. With friends, family and the neighbors standing together in the wreckage of the havoc that has knocked at each door.

The Global Empowerment Mission (GEM)

Answering to a community’s prayer, Jamaica has leaned on communities beyond its borders in its recovery efforts. Relief Missions for the region began almost immediately in the aftermath of the storm, making sure to cover all those impacted by the rage of Melissa. This includes support across the impacted Caribbean islands from organizations such as Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), which has committed more than $20 million in aid for Jamaica. This has translated to a staggering 500 metric tons of aid per week, including 18 cargo planes and containers of food, and two cruise ships carrying emergency aid to the island’s shores.

International Aid

Coordinated efforts from international partners have also stepped in including the United States, which has donated $37 million since November 12th, Canada, which has provided $11 million with an additional $6 million for disaster preparedness and recovery, and the United Kingdom, which has contributed $9.8 million in total relief. These combined efforts from some of the world’s most influential governments and nonprofits have ensured all hands are on deck to contribute to the community’s cry’s for need are not unmet. 

The Results of #PrayforJamaica

While helping hands have stretched across the island, ripples of compassion have extended to likes and shares online. In recent weeks, social media users have taken to their platforms to show their support for recovery efforts following the island’s devastating loss. Through the power of #PrayforJamaica, users have mobilized their collective relief efforts, sharing prayers, donation links and additional information to help those who the storm’s devastation most affected. 

Digital solidarity has contributed to people making donations towards nonprofit agencies such as Mercy Corps, Food For The Poor Jamaica and American Friends of Jamaica ( AFJ).​​ These organizations have used the flood of monetary donations to contribute to the community’s dire needs to repair infrastructure, rebuild homes, restore power and clean water and provide sanctuary for displaced individuals as they navigate loss. 

Being poor in Jamaica requires more than temporary means of aid but long-term investments that ensure they remain on their feet. These initiatives are true recovery efforts that ensure stability and last beyond a hurricane.

A Lasting Message of Unity

In his video, “St.Elizabeth is Drowning After Hurricanes,” One Love Jamaica centers on the lives that the passage of Hurricane Melissa touched. A video that has garnered more than 210,000 views has introduced an online platform on the natural disasters that impact real people. It captures roads that have halted the traveling of cars, communities unable to travel by foot over the land surrounded by water, and many other personal stories like Ann-Marie, where every dollar and share makes a difference in their daily lives. 

With sky view footage, One Love Jamaica reminds viewers of the persistent resilience of the Jamaican people. Ending the video with a lasting message of unity that no storm could drown, he said that “People are offering strength to each other in the darkest of moments –  this is the Jamaican spirit.” 

One Love Jamaica’s inspirational message embodies the resilient spirit in his home country and across digital borders. In the wake of a ravenous storm that has torn through hospitals, churches, schools and homes, poor Jamaicans are able to keep hope of a prosperous future as they continue to rebuild with strength with the little they have.

– Megan Omolo

Megan is based in Willingboro, NJ, USA and focuses on Celebs and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash