In the uneasy calm that settles after a hurricane has swept through, there’s a strange clarity that emerges. Fallen trees reveal sightlines we never noticed before. Broken coastlines expose the raw edge of the island. Roofs torn away uncover the bones of houses, showing us where they were strong and where they weren’t quite honest with themselves. And as communities step cautiously back outside, there is always a moment where we take stock—not just of the damage, but of who we are, what we value, and where we intend to go.
Jamaica now sits in a similar moment of architectural introspection, but on a national scale. The hurricane has passed, both literally and figuratively, and in the exposed beams and stripped foundations of the global order, the island finds itself staring at decisions that could reshape its future. The Caribbean may look small on a map, but the world has a way of rediscovering its importance every few decades. Shipping lanes, food security, fresh water, digital corri…
