KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaicans will know by 5:00 pm on Monday which Orders the Government will implement under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) to combat the approaching Hurricane Beryl, projected to begin impacting the country on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated that the update will be provided after a meeting with the Cabinet. Holness was speaking at a Jamaica House press briefing following a meeting of the Disaster Risk Management Committee, also at Jamaica House.

Holness said, “The Government is contemplating, based upon the various updates that we’ve received, the implementation of Orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act. This would give the government the necessary executive powers to respond quickly and with flexibility.”

Continuing, he said, “No decision has yet been taken. The Cabinet will reconvene, and when we review all the recommendations and presentations made [by the various committees], we will inform the nation about the implementation orders under the DRMA.”

The Prime Minister emphasised that this is very important as it will, firstly, establish that there is a disaster and that emergency rules would kick in. It is also very important for accountability afterwards.

Holness added, “Sometimes, after disasters have passed, the accountability process does not incorporate that there was a disaster. Therefore, it is important that the framework be well established. It is likely that we will implement orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act, and the nation will know this before 5:00 pm today.”

The Prime Minister explained that the Orders would also be important for guiding the security forces, “particularly in taking presumptive actions to prevent looting, which we have seen in past disasters, and we will not countenance any such thing in this pending emergency.”

“It is also necessary to help us guide and encourage the general public who may be in areas likely to be significantly impacted,” Holness added.

He stated that, “By all projections, the hurricane is on a track to significantly affect the southern end of the island, meaning that low-lying areas are going to be seriously affected.” He noted that the impact could be from heavy rains, flooding, or landslides, some of which have caused deaths in the past.

“Because it is a hurricane, we will also have high winds, which means that we could see damage to residential property and other infrastructure, so we have to be prepared for that,” he said.

The Prime Minister also noted that both the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Fire Brigade have advised that, at certain times, their services will not be available – meaning evacuations, health responses, and emergency services.

“We may not have aircraft, boats, or fire trucks available because those things may have to be secured during the hurricane. As citizens, you must assess the threat to your immediate environment and make the right decision about evacuation,” said the Prime Minister.

He urged Jamaicans to take the hurricane seriously but not to panic and to use the next 48 hours to prepare. Meanwhile, in terms of the government’s plans for security, Holness said, “We’re not yet contemplating any curfews or limitations on movement, but as we get closer to the time and can assess the intensity of the hurricane, we will make those decisions and communicate them to the public.”