Gov't considering using powers under DRMA as Hurricane Beryl approaches

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this afternoon told Jamaicans that the Cabinet is contemplating implementing orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act to give the Government the necessary powers to respond quickly to eventualities from Hurricane Beryl. 

Holness said a decision is to be communicated to the public by 5 p.m.

Cabinet is to meet again today to further assess reports from ministries and agencies. 

He said the thinking is to give the security forces more room to operate before and after the hurricane as they guard against negative behaviours such as looting. 

Further, he said the move is to ensure a framework is in place for accountability. 

The Prime Minister indicated that the Government is not yet considering implementing any curfews or limitations on movement. 

He said those decisions will be made and communicated as the system moves closer to Jamaica. 

Holness implored persons who live in low-lying areas of Jamaica to evacuate as emergency services, such as the Jamaica Defence Force and the fire brigade, might not be available to rescue them during the hurricane. 

He highlighted that Jamaicans have about 48 hours before Hurricane Beryl starts impacting Jamaica to ensure they stock up on supplies and make other preparations. 

Earlier, Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, said that Hurricane Beryl “should be close to, if not over, the island in two days”. 

Thompson said Beryl “is a powerful system and requires our attention".

He noted that there has been a slight shift in the projected path of the system, with the centre no longer expected to move over Jamaica, but off the coast. 

He warned that the forecast could change, noting that Beryl could pass Jamaica as a category two hurricane.

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