UDC mobilises for Black River clean-up following Holness order

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) says clean-up work in Black River, St Elizabeth, will begin "shortly", as it prepares to take charge of debris removal and restoration efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

The confirmation follows a directive from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who announced during a site visit that the UDC would assume responsibility for clearing debris and restoring public spaces in the town, which was heavily impacted by the hurricane.

The UDC is a government-owned agency with responsibility for planning, developing, managing, and rehabilitating urban areas.

Chairman of the UDC, Norman Brown, said the corporation is mobilising resources in line with the prime minister’s guidance, with emphasis on efficiency, public health, and the restoration of normal activity.

“The Prime Minister has made it clear that this work must be done efficiently and with a clear focus on restoring normalcy,” Brown said, noting that the UDC has assessed conditions on the ground and is prepared to move forward in a manner that supports businesses, residents, and public spaces.

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UDC General Manager Bobby Honeyghan said operational planning is already under way, with sanitation and environmental health at the centre of the response.

“The Prime Minister underscored the public health risks associated with post-disaster debris, and our approach reflects that,” Honeyghan said.

Holness announced the assignment during a tour of Black River, including Independence Park, where debris cleared during the emergency response phase has been temporarily stored. He stressed that the area cannot remain a dumping site.

“This is Independence Park in Black River… we don’t want to turn this into a minidump,” Holness said, adding that debris removal is critical not only for aesthetics but also for public health, particularly amid concerns such as leptospirosis.

Black River, the seaside capital of St Elizabeth, was among several communities badly affected by Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in nearby New Hope, Westmoreland, damaging historical sites and disrupting commercial activity.