Jamaica’s Recovery After Hurricane Melissa | Amb. Richard Brown

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds reaching nearly 300 km/h, recently devastated Jamaica, leaving over 600,000 people displaced and wiping out nearly 30% of the country’s GDP. In this episode of The McKay Interview, Jamaican Ambassador Dr. Richard Brown outlines the full scale of the destruction and the urgent need for stronger global support — particularly from international organisations and the United Nations system.

Michael McKay and Dr. Brown explore:

• The unprecedented scale of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction across Jamaica’s western parishes

• The economic toll: $6–7 billion in damages and over 120,000 structures affected

• What worked — and didn’t — in Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response

• How catastrophe bonds and parametric insurance are helping fund emergency relief

• Why small island developing states like Jamaica need tailored climate finance and legal recognition

• The role of Geneva-based organisations and how donors can support Jamaica’s recovery

This conversation also delves into larger questions:

• Is the international system, including the United Nations, still fit for purpose?

• Can small countries weather climate shocks without systemic global reform?

• And what does Jamaica’s resilience — “Wi likkle but wi tallawah” — look like in 2025?

Listen now to better understand the link between diplomacy, climate justice, and international solidarity.