Belizean students pursuing their education in Jamaica have been granted essential financial assistance from their home government to recover from the economic impact of Hurricane Melissa. The unexpected natural disaster had forced many scholars to exhaust their personal savings on emergency provisions, evacuation travel, and temporary accommodation, creating significant financial strain as they prepared to resume full in-person classes for the new academic term.
Bernard Pitts, President of the Belizean Student Association of Jamaica, confirmed the receipt of governmental funds. While the disbursement process is currently underway, arrangements have been made for both students remaining in Jamaica during the break and those returning in January. The assistance program addresses the practical challenges of fund distribution, particularly for students without local bank accounts.
When questioned about the allocation of these resources, Pitts clarified that the financial support would primarily cover essential living expenses including food, accommodation, and transportation—the same areas where students had incurred unexpected costs during hurricane preparations. The funding will effectively replace depleted emergency budgets, enabling scholars to regain financial stability and focus on their academic pursuits without the burden of unforeseen hurricane-related expenditures.