A high-level delegation of Caribbean leaders, accompanied by officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is set to arrive in Jamaica today to evaluate the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Melissa. The group, led by CARICOM Chairman and Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, includes Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Guyana President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett, and IDB President Ilan Goldfajn. Their itinerary includes visits to severely affected areas in St. James, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, with stops planned in Westgreen and Catherine Hall, two Montego Bay communities still grappling with the aftermath of the Category 5 storm. Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica on October 28, unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides, particularly in the western parishes. The Barnett, Pye, and Montego rivers overflowed, submerging entire neighborhoods, destroying homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, and displacing thousands of residents. Many areas remain without reliable electricity or clean water. The tour aims to provide regional leaders with a firsthand understanding of the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for coordinated recovery efforts. This visit follows pledges of solidarity and support from CARICOM member states, with Barbados establishing a field hospital at Cornwall Regional Hospital and other nations offering financial and technical assistance. The IDB, a key financial partner in the region, is expected to use this opportunity to discuss reconstruction funding and long-term climate adaptation strategies, especially as small island nations face increasing threats from extreme weather events. Prime Minister Holness has underscored the importance of regional unity and international collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by the disaster. Monday’s high-level engagement is anticipated to shape a comprehensive recovery framework, focusing on housing, infrastructure rehabilitation, and community support for the hardest-hit areas. Additional details of the delegation’s itinerary will be provided by the Office of the Prime Minister.
PM Browne Among CARICOM Heads Visiting Storm-Devastated Communities in Jamaica Today
