Cedric Stephens | Avoidance of calamity

A 71-year-old man collapsed and died on the floor while checking in to board a flight at the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay. His death, according to news reports, occurred amid failed attempts to transport him to hospital for treatment.

The event is likely to have reputational, legal, insurance, and other effects for the airport’s owners and operators.

People on social media were quick to assign blame for the incident in the absence of an official investigation. This column, despite the author’s familiarity with the terms and conditions of the contractual agreement between the owners and operators and their obligations under international conventions, will await the findings of what went wrong and the actions that will be taken to prevent a recurrence.

The daily landing and takeoff of aircraft, the movement of as many as 4.7 million passengers each year, and the storage and dispensing of aviation fuel, among other things, have the potential to create a major calamity when things go wrong. The effective management of the many risks associated with these activities should be uppermost in the minds of the airport owners, operators, and regulators. Other stakeholders include employees, users of the facilities (local and foreign visitors), and members of the public.

Sangster International Airport was named the Caribbean’s leading airport in 2024 by World Travel Awards. The airport claimed the title for the 16th consecutive year. The award is said to ‘“recognise, reward, and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries”.

The prime minister announced on September 10, according to the Jamaica Information Service, the establishment of a disaster risk management review committee or DRMRC for short.

There is a link between the airport incident and that report. The DRMRC’s mission is to assess the country’s disaster risk management processes and make recommendations to strengthen preparedness for disasters and ensure that the country is ready to meet future crises, head-on. The unfortunate death of Mr Leroy Smith seemed to reflect a serious breakdown in the airport’s emergency response management processes.

Whether the Sangster International Airport incident played a role, or the prime minister’s announcement was already in the pipeline, is not known. The decision was important and timely as the explosion at a New Kingston fast-food outlet showed.

While Mr Holness did not mention the words ‘climate change’, he noted that given the intensity and frequency of disasters in recent years, the country must stand ready to respond swiftly and effectively to safeguard lives and livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

“The most recent reminder of our vulnerability came with Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Beryl caused considerable damage across parishes, affecting thousands of households and leaving many Jamaicans without shelter, water, electricity, and Internet connectivity, totalling, I am sure, over $10 billion in damage,” Mr Holness said. “The resulting impact is sobering, and it shows what is at stake for Jamaica if we are hit by a hurricane or any other form of natural disaster,” he said.

Of note, a July 29, 2024, Gleaner report said that the finance minister estimated the cost of damage caused by Hurricane Beryl at $45 billion.

In conducting its mandate, the DRMRC will assess vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and services to ensure that they remain operational even during disaster events.

These include water-supply systems, electricity grids, telecommunications networks, and transportation. “These are the backbone of daily life and must remain operational. The focus will be on ensuring that these essential services are designed, maintained, and upgraded to withstand the impact of hurricanes, floods, and other disaster events.”

The committee will also evaluate the readiness and capability of the country’s emergency services to ensure that they are equipped to respond quickly and efficiently to crises and provide recommendations for improving national and local disaster-response frameworks, ensuring better coordination among agencies.

“The work of the DRMRC is not just about addressing the immediate risks posed by disasters, but about building a culture of resilience in Jamaica that prepares us for the future. The ultimate goal is to ensure that our infrastructure, services, and communities are equipped to handle any challenge, ensuring the continued safety and well-being of Jamaicans, and, indeed, the continuity of Government in the face of any serious natural disaster challenge,” it was stated.

This column does not know whether Mr Holness or the technocrats that form part of his support team pay attention to the ideas that appear under this heading. I would like to believe so.

Last week’s article, ‘Flood Hazard a Costly Policy Failure’, complained that policymakers often overlooked the country’s flood hazard. The PM did not make this mistake. He mentioned this risk. Additionally, one of the two authors of The Natural Hazards of Jamaica Atlas, which was one of my sources of reference, was appointed to the DRMRC. A coincidence?

Cedric E. Stephens provides independent information and advice about the management of risks and insurance. For free information or counsel, write to: aegis@flowja.com or business@gleanerjm.com