South West St Elizabeth Member of Parliament Floyd Green has delivered a resolute message of recovery following Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact on Jamaica’s primary agricultural region. The Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, drawing strength from personal adversity, acknowledged the parish’s profoundly challenging circumstances after enduring two major hurricanes within consecutive years.
In an exclusive interview with Observer Online during Sunday’s Food, Rum and Reggae Benefit concert at Ranny Williams Entertainment Complex, Green described the hurricane aftermath as ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘traumatic’ for constituents who lost livelihoods within hours. ‘When you consider how much people lost and how diligently they’ve worked, especially in this region of Jamaica, and witnessing everything vanish in less than a day becomes profoundly devastating,’ he reflected.
The benefit concert, originally scheduled for November 7-9 in St Elizabeth, was strategically repurposed to support reconstruction initiatives following hurricane-related postponement. Event organizers confirmed that partial proceeds will specifically target rejuvenation of the agricultural sector, which had been progressively recovering from 2024’s Hurricane Beryl before Melissa’s devastating arrival.
Green revealed his own personal stakes in the disaster, noting that his residence in Black River suffered complete destruction. Despite this dual burden of public representation and personal loss, the minister emphasized his unwavering commitment to leadership responsibilities. ‘As their elected representative and community leader, I recognized the imperative to demonstrate steadfast leadership. Setting aside personal concerns to serve the maximum number of affected individuals became my immediate priority,’ he stated.
The parliamentarian invoked theological perspective to contextualize the challenges, referencing the adage about divine assignment of difficult battles to strongest soldiers. While expressing preference for alternative outcomes, Green affirmed his philosophical approach: ‘We certainly wouldn’t choose to endure this again, particularly so shortly after Beryl. However, we maintain our resilience and continue advancing forward despite adversities.’
He highlighted the crucial reinforcement from family, friends, and support networks providing essential encouragement and guidance. Green concluded with determined optimism: ‘Each day begins with gratitude and renewed dedication to progress. While no simple solutions exist, our collective perseverance ensures St Elizabeth’s agricultural sector will ultimately emerge stronger.’