There is a rhythm to life on an island in the hurricane belt.
The sky darkens. The air stills. Radios become companions. Windows are boarded. And then, when it has passed, the ritual begins again: sweeping yards, clearing roads, assessing roofs, checking neighbours.
Jamaica does not panic at storms. We prepare, we endure, and we rebuild.
But what is less often examined — and what deserves calm, honest reflection — is the pattern that follows.
If a major storm strikes in 2024, recovery stretches into 2025.
If another comes in 2025, rebuilding flows into 2026.
If 2026 delivers yet another system, the repair cycle may stretch deep into the decade — perhaps toward 2030 before equilibrium truly returns.
This is not speculation. It is mathematics.
And mathematics is indifferent to optimism.
