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.
