With another hurricane season fast approaching, the Port Authority of Jamaica says its objective is to ensure that its processes are managed differently this time around.
President Professor Gordon Shirley was referring to congestion at the ports, especially in Montego Bay, St. James, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October.
He noted that while the hurricane was only one of several systemic shocks causing the congestion, the Category 5 system placed significant strain on the facility.
The surge of relief cargo was another factor, which coincided with and overlapped with Christmas peak volumes, overwhelming available storage space.
With the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season now a month away, Professor Shirley says the authority is determined to apply the lessons learned following Melissa.
He pointed to improvements in the communication with customers and the further automation of processes as key considerations in anticipation of another hurricane.
Professor Shirley was speaking at Wednesday’s sitting of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee.
