BLUEFIELDS, Jamaica — Three months after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage through western Jamaica, Belmont Academy continues its arduous recovery journey with crucial support from corporate partners. The Category 5 storm inflicted severe damage to the educational institution that serves approximately 1,100 students, leaving it without stable electricity and compromising critical learning infrastructure.
JN Money Services (JNMS) has emerged as a key ally in the school’s rehabilitation efforts, providing essential emergency supplies and a generator through its Holiday Hope initiative during the Christmas period. This intervention has proven vital for maintaining administrative operations and enabling continued teaching in specialized subjects including information technology and AutoCAD design.
Principal Rayon Simpson revealed that while the Ministry of Education addresses external structural repairs, the school depends heavily on partner support for internal and programmatic needs. ‘Approximately 35 percent of windows and doors still require procurement and installation,’ Simpson noted, emphasizing the institution’s role as a stabilizing force for the broader Bluefields community.
The hurricane’s impact was comprehensive: all four science laboratories suffered damage, along with the auditorium, tuck shop, stationery room, and staff facilities. The school lost approximately 50 computers, server room infrastructure, agricultural facilities, water storage systems, library resources, and mechanical engineering equipment.
Simpson described the donated generator as ‘nothing short of a lifeline,’ enabling critical functions including student registration for external examinations through the Caribbean Examinations Council, City and Guilds, and the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training during a pivotal academic period.
JNMS Assistant General Manager Sanya Wallace highlighted the special significance of supporting Belmont Academy, previously a winner of the company’s Back-to-School Jingle Competition. The assistance forms part of JN Group’s broader mission to restore hope and rebuild communities across Jamaica, with additional support provided through medical care, counseling services, and emergency supplies distribution.
The school community has expressed profound gratitude for the sustained support, which continues to facilitate both immediate recovery and long-term educational continuity.