climate resilience

When I asked one of our subscribers that question recently — “Do you think people will still be interested in buying homes in Jamaica now?” — the response came sharp and fast, without even a breath in between:“No way!” It wasn’t the kind of answer you get after thinking. It was one of those instinctive ones — the kind you say when frustration meets fatigue. Hurricanes, flooding,...

There are moments in a nation’s story when the landscape itself seems to sigh — as if exhausted by the weight of human neglect. Hurricane Melissa was one such moment. It didn’t simply pass through Jamaica; it unstitched her seams. Before the storm, there was the hum of daily life: the chatter in the shops, the soft hum of generators in the distance, and the hopeful rhythm of a country preparing...

By Dean Jones – Chartered Construction Manager, Project Manager, Surveyor, RealtorPublished October 31, 2025 A Nation Reshaped Overnight When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica with sustained winds nearing 185 mph, it wasn’t just another storm. It was a defining moment — one that has changed how we see our homes, our infrastructure, and our future as a nation. In areas like...

Published October 29, 2025By Dean Jones | Chartered Construction Manager · Project Manager · Surveyor · Realtor A Nation Tested by Storm and Spirit On October 29, 2025, I joined CNN International’s Isa Soares Tonight live from Jamaica to speak about the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The storm, which packed winds up to 185 mph, left parts of the island unrecognizable — entire...

By Dean Jones 31 October 2025 This week, I had the opportunity to speak with one of Britain’s most respected journalists, Andrew Marr, on LBC — the UK’s largest commercial news radio station, with over 3.4 million listeners.You can watch the full interview here: 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkQ9SWjTVFA It was an honour to discuss the situation on the ground in...

I’ve walked job sites at dawn where the air is cool and the concrete still holds the night’s breath. I’ve stood on rooftops at dusk watching Kingston’s lights wink awake like a scatter of fireflies. In those moments, the question I return to—again and again—is simple: what do our buildings say about who we are, and who we’re becoming? In Jamaica, architecture has always been more than...

This week, I had the opportunity to speak live on BBC News (UK TV) with Lucy Hockings, discussing the conditions here in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa passed through the island. 🎥 Watch the full BBC News interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDNsVkZq_eY&feature=youtu.be🎥 Watch my follow-up interview with BBC Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmQOdWNAqgY&feature=youtu.be The...

Jamaica has always lived with a double consciousness. On the one hand, it is a small island — 4,244 square miles, easily crossed in a day, intimate in scale, where everybody knows somebody who knows you. On the other hand, Jamaica’s story is vast. It stretches across oceans, centuries, belief systems, trade routes, empires, and continents. At the heart of that larger story sits Africa — not as an...

Jamaican architecture has always been a vibrant blend of influences, reflecting the island’s rich cultural heritage, colonial history, and unique environmental factors. As the world changes, so too is Jamaican architecture, evolving to meet the challenges of sustainability, technological advancement, and cultural preservation. The future of architecture in Jamaica promises a blend of modern innovations...

In countries filled with structures made out of brick and wood it is hard to believe that they can be made with anything else. Buildings are supposed to be sturdy and able to withstand anything from a clear day to severe thunderstorms. There's a reason why kings built their castles out of stone, and why the two pigs who built their houses out of straw and sticks had their houses destroyed. It's...