Cartoon of the Day: British Experts Are Coming. What About Jamaica’s Own?

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Jamaica prepares to welcome British reconstruction specialists to assist with rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa, an important question deserves attention: what about the expertise already here at home?

On Tuesday, October 27, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced plans for an agreement with the United Kingdom to provide technical support to Jamaica’s National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA).

The arrangement would see both governments share the cost of deploying specialists with international experience in delivering major reconstruction programmes.

International cooperation is nothing new, and Jamaica stands to benefit from technical knowledge gained through rebuilding efforts elsewhere.

But Jamaica also has qualified engineers, architects, building surveyors, project managers, quantity surveyors, planners, contractors and skilled tradespeople. Many have worked on major projects locally and internationally.

The question is not whether Jamaica should welcome assistance. It is whether sufficient opportunities are being created for Jamaican professionals to lead, contribute meaningfully and develop the next generation of expertise.

Earlier this month, concerns were raised within Jamaica’s construction industry that government payment delays and administrative obstacles, rather than a simple lack of local capability, were contributing to slow project delivery.

The Government has indicated that British specialists will work alongside Jamaican professionals, with an emphasis on capacity building and knowledge transfer.

That is encouraging. However, the true measure of success should extend beyond completed buildings and infrastructure.

It should also be whether Jamaican firms emerge stronger, local professionals gain meaningful responsibilities, and more of the knowledge required for future reconstruction remains within the country.

Jamaica should welcome expertise from abroad without overlooking the expertise it already possesses.

After all, rebuilding Jamaica should also mean building Jamaican capacity.

Cartoon of the Day is an editorial commentary feature of Jamaica Homes News. The illustration is satirical and does not depict an actual arrival of reconstruction specialists.