In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating path through Jamaica, a story of resilience emerges from the coastal community of Parottee, St. Elizabeth. Denever ‘Floyd’ Forbes, proprietor of the world-renowned Pelican Bar, is spearheading a determined reconstruction effort after the Category 5 hurricane obliterated his establishment with a monumental 16-foot wave on October 28.
The unique beach bar, situated approximately one mile offshore on a natural sandbar, was completely uprooted from its foundations during the storm. Rather than being dismantled piecemeal, the entire structure was lifted and scattered across the shoreline. Forbes has been meticulously gathering the salvageable materials, including wooden boards bearing sentimental inscriptions from past visitors, to rebuild the beloved institution.
This marks the second reconstruction for Forbes, who initially built the structure as a personal retreat in 2001 before transforming it into a commercial bar following popular demand. The first iteration was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, with the rebuilt version surviving Hurricane Beryl in 2023 before succumbing to Melissa’s unprecedented force.
The Pelican Bar’s significance extends far beyond tourism, serving as the economic lifeline for the entire Parottee community. With local fisheries decimated by the hurricane—fishing traps were entirely lost—the bar provided crucial secondary income for residents who operated tour boats and supported operations. Typically hosting 100-150 visitors daily, the establishment attracted international celebrities including Chris Brown and Chris Gayle, offering fresh seafood and cold drinks in a unique oceanic setting.
Forbes acknowledges the impossibility of fortifying against Melissa’s intensity, describing how the hurricane’s power extracted the bar’s foundational poles ‘like pencils from fingers.’ Despite lacking a definitive timeline, he estimates a two-month reconstruction based on previous experience, promising a larger yet similarly designed structure that maintains the authentic experience visitors cherished.
The community eagerly anticipates the bar’s return, which represents not just economic revival but the restoration of a cultural landmark that transformed from personal hideaway to global destination, embodying Jamaica’s resilient spirit in the face of natural disaster.