MBJ CEO signals plan to help end shift systems in hurricane-hit schools
Published:Wednesday | March 25, 2026 | 12:07 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU
Shane Munroe, chief executive officer of MBJ Airports Limited, has signalled a major push to help restore normal school operations across western Jamaica, as several institutions continue to grapple with the lingering devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Speaking at a recent grant award ceremony hosted by the MBJ Airports Foundation, Munroe said his organisation is directing part of the proceeds from its charity run and walk initiative toward repairing damaged school infrastructure and helping institutions that were forced to adopt shift systems in the wake of the storm.
“We are directing a portion of these funds towards restoring and repairing school infrastructure, with a clear objective to address situations where schools are forced into class rotations that require students to learn in shifts simply because there isn’t enough functional classroom space or because roofs are leaking,” Munroe said.
While MBJ Airports Limited has not yet disclosed how many institutions will benefit from the infrastructure intervention aimed at ending the shift system, checks by The Gleaner revealed that seven secondary schools across western Jamaica are currently operating on shifts after sections of their campuses were severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa last October.
In St James, the Anchovy High, Spot Valley High, St James High, and Mount Alvernia High schools have been forced to facilitate students on shift systems as administrators struggle to cope with severely damaged classrooms and infrastructure.
DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE
The situation is similar in Westmoreland, where Belmont Academy and Manning’s School are currently operating on shifts, while in neighbouring Hanover, Rusea’s High School has also been forced to adopt the arrangement as sections of its campus remain unusable.
The shift system – often introduced as a temporary emergency measure – has left thousands of students attending shortened classes or learning in staggered schedules months after the hurricane passed.
Munroe stressed that restoring full classroom access is essential not only for students, but also for the long-term stability of the communities surrounding Sangster International Airport.
“A resilient airport requires a resilient community,” he said. “If schools cannot function, if families cannot recover, and if young people cannot complete their education, then the workforce, the destination, and the economy that we all depend on cannot thrive.”
Alongside infrastructure support, the MBJ Airports Foundation is also disbursing $15 million in grants to high school and tertiary students across Jamaica, primarily from western parishes, to assist with exam fees, textbooks, and tuition support.
“These grants are designed to help students where they are,” Munroe said. “Whether that means paying exam fees, purchasing textbooks, supporting tuition payments, or simply ensuring that they stay in school and remain on track.”
He added that additional support is expected from the airport operator’s international shareholders, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico and Vantage Airport Group, which are preparing to make a significant contribution to the wider recovery effort.
Munroe urged the students benefiting from the programme to see the assistance as an investment in their future and to one day extend the same support to others.
“This is not charity – it is an investment in you,” he said. “Challenges may arise, such as Hurricane Melissa, but resilience is what will define your journey. And when you succeed, we ask only that you become a destiny helper and help someone else along the way.”