In what has become a rather normal show of solidarity and support for one another in times of need, a group of Caribbean Community leaders flew to hurricane-ravaged Jamaica this week and pledged additional financial and material support for the country in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness briefed President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, Prime Ministers Mia Mottley of Barbados, Gaston Browne of Antigua and Dickon Mitchell of Grenada about recovery and rebuilding efforts following the passage of Hurricane Melissa late last month.
Also, on the ground assessing damage to several of the island’s northern and western parishes were officials from the CARICOM Secretariat, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and other regional and international partners.
Detailing the wrath and power of Hurricane Melissa, packing sustained winds of above 185 miles per hour, PM Holness reported that more than 150,000 homes have been completely destroyed and in excess of 900,000 Jamaicans have been affected by its passage.
“We estimate conservatively that about 900,000 Jamaicans have been impacted and roughly 150,000 homes destroyed. Every aid given and every commitment made must quickly advance the recovery and make Jamaica stronger. It is regretful that after working so hard to bring our debt down towards 60% of GDP, we now face a situation where half the country’s infrastructure has been devastated,” the PM told colleagues. “We must spend on relief and recovery while dealing with lost revenues. Our financial situation is of great concern and must be managed carefully.”
Guyanese head of state Ali said he was surprised by what had actually taken place on the island, as it was only then that the real magnitude of the destruction became apparent. Communities and parishes in Kingston, the center and the east of the country, were largely spared by Melissa.
“You have to be here to see this devastation. There are no words, but the resilience and strength of the Jamaican people tell you everything about the Jamaican spirit,” Ali said.
All four leaders pledged material and financial assistance to Jamaica, with Guyana leading the way. Defense Force soldiers will immediately work with the JDF to urgently repair the roofs of 200 homes in Westmorland, as the PM noted that “every aid given and every commitment made must quickly advance the recovery and make Jamaica stronger.” Early estimates of actual damage have been placed at US$8 billion.
Barbados, for example, will send garbage compactor trucks to help with the cleanup, tarpaulins, generators, and food sourced from neighboring Trinidad, in addition to a field hospital previously sent to Jamaica.
“Jamaica must know that it does not walk alone at this moment. This year, it is Jamaica. Next year, it will be one of us. And it is important that we retain that solidarity,” said PM Mottley.
So far, officials have put the death toll at 42 as utility companies like mobile phone provider Digicel say they are working to restore service to affected communities in the coming weeks, assuring that the situation will be normalized long before the holiday season.
When Hurricane Melissa came ashore, the island was still reeling from Superstorm Beryl, which had first ravaged Grenada’s sister islands, impacted Barbados and St. Vincent, and made its way to Jamaica, causing significant damage, especially to utility services. Still, PM Brown of Antigua and Mitchell of Grenada say Jamaica must fight on as CARICOM stands behind it.
“We’re here to stand in solidarity with PM Holness and the people of Jamaica. We are not new to hurricanes – they are always disruptive – but what you are facing now is enormous. To hear that as many as 900,000 people have been affected is significant. We are resilient as Caribbean people, and this, too, shall pass. We rebuilt Barbuda after Hurricane Irma, and today it is significantly better than before. Jamaica can rebuild bigger and better, too.” PM Mitchell said Grenada knows the perils of superstorms only too well.
“We wanted to show our solidarity with the government and people of Jamaica because we understand the challenges you are going through; we have gone through them ourselves. The support of our brothers and sisters in the region helped us to rebound, and we want to do the same for Jamaica.”
