On November 16, 2025, former contestant Daniel Barnes, contestant number seven in the Mr. and Miss UCC Pageant and founder of The Boys to Men Foundation, an organization focused on men’s mental health, was interviewed by fellow contestant Kayla Landells. He was asked to share his views on St. Elizabeth’s status after the devastating hit the parish faced from Hurricane Melissa.
Barnes explained that because Melissa reached Category Five strength, the hurricane severely damaged the area’s biodiversity. People without prior knowledge of the situation were burning debris at clean-up areas, which he believes is an issue that must be urgently addressed, as burning too soon after can lead to dangerous wildfires.
“I wrote and sent a letter to various persons, including the MP, . . . to say ‘hey guys, we know that you’re trying to get back up, but, in your cleanup efforts, please do not burn the preparation material, because doing so can cause wildfires … everything is flammable,’” he said.
In a separate interview with The Gleaner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Department of Jamaica explained that Hurricane Melissa produced maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (297.7 km/h), with gusts reaching 252 mph (405.6 km/h). At such speeds, the leaves of plants can appear “burnt” due to wind damage.
Plants look burnt after a hurricane due to windburn, a condition where high winds pull moisture from leaves faster than the plant can replace it, causing them to dry out and turn brown. This is similar to chapping on human skin, and in coastal areas, salt spray (airborne water) from the ocean can further dehydrate and burn the leaves.
When asked if he thinks that the trees can grow back, Barnes said: “Yes, they do have the opportunity to grow back … I am not a specialist, but NEPA could give further information as to when we can see the re-emerging of our plants in terms of repopulating”.
The Forestry Department has stated its commitment to planting and producing as many trees as necessary to support Jamaica’s recovery and strengthen future resilience. This disaster has added urgency to Phase Two of the National Tree Planting Initiative, announced earlier this year by Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda.
“Wildlife is quite scarce now because bees don’t have any pollination, the flowers in plants to get that nectar, especially our birds as well … they’re in survival mode; they normally don’t go on the ground, and we see them on the ground trying to get something (to eat),” Mr. Barnes further explains.
According to Barnes, St. Elizabeth, particularly the South-west region, faced a lot of agricultural losses, and complete fields of crops have been washed away. He also suggested that farmers who are officially registered should have access to specialized agricultural insurance through banks. This insurance would cover disasters such as hurricanes and severe drought. He recommended that there be educational campaigns in terms of developing climate-resilient farming practices.
He talks about the need for proper urban planning in towns like Black River, which he described as being so heavily damaged that it appears “almost apocalyptic”. He highlights the importance of preserving our heritage as it is both symbolic and historical, though we need to modernize it so it can withstand the current times of our climate.
Barnes believes vertical farming could be one of the most effective modernized approaches, as it maximizes space and allows for relocation in extreme weather, an advantage traditional field farming does not offer.
“I think Jamaica needs — or the western part of the island needs a campaign surrounding planting; sure, we need to have the Forestry Department; I’m not sure if it was severely impacted, but we need to import plants and trees … because trees are essential. They keep the ecosystem alive,” he explained.
However, Barnes expressed doubt about the regeneration of trees that appear to be completely burnt, stating that he does not believe they can be restored and that replanting may be the only viable option.
