分类： society

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC) Jamaica Chapter has unveiled its new board of directors for the 2025–2027 term. Established regionally in 2012 and formally operational in Jamaica since 2014, WENC is dedicated to addressing challenges faced by women-led micro and small enterprises, such as limited access to finance, mentorship, networks, and markets. The newly appointed board will guide the organization’s initiatives over the next two years, focusing on technology adoption, policy advocacy, and hurricane recovery efforts. The board includes Ethnie Miller Simpson as president, alongside vice presidents overseeing governance, technology, strategic partnerships, marketing, advocacy, membership, and finance. The secretary position remains unfilled. WENC has partnered with Pioneering Greatness, led by CEO David Archer Jr, and secured support from several companies for ongoing relief activities. The organization is advocating for a national recovery plan that prioritizes the needs of women and children in shelters and supports the rebuilding of women-owned businesses, including food stalls, bars, Airbnb rentals, and farms. Through its #womenfornationalrecoveryplan campaign, WENC plans to host town hall meetings, business restart seminars, and funding sessions for affected entrepreneurs. President Miller Simpson emphasized the critical role of small businesses, particularly those led by women, in Jamaica’s economic recovery. She highlighted the importance of smaller operators in the tourism sector and warned that natural disasters exacerbate gender inequality, disproportionately affecting women in informal sectors and increasing caregiving burdens. WENC remains committed to collaborating with partners to empower women entrepreneurs as they rebuild their businesses.

The Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation (JDSF) has successfully raised over $3.1 million through its second annual Bredrin 2K Walk, held at Hope Gardens last Sunday. The funds will be directed toward supporting families impacted by Hurricane Melissa, particularly those in western Jamaica. The event, aligned with World Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, emphasized the theme ‘Health Equity’ and aimed to foster inclusion, healthy living, and national unity. Approximately 100 participants joined the walk, which also garnered significant product donations from Wisynco and National Bakery. To date, 10 families have received $225,000 in financial aid and care packages, with an additional 50 care packages provided by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation. JDSF founder Dr. Charmaine Scott highlighted the event’s significance in showcasing Jamaica’s resilience and compassion during recovery efforts. Executive Director Nadine Tarawali praised the community’s generosity, noting that the walk exceeded financial and emotional expectations. The foundation expressed gratitude to its sponsors, including NCB Foundation, Digicel Foundation, and others, for their unwavering support in promoting inclusion and nation-building.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South West, Floyd Green, collaborated with Tank-Weld Metals Ltd to spearhead a comprehensive relief initiative across seven severely affected communities. The operation, executed through the South West St Elizabeth Hurricane Relief Command Centre, involved the distribution of 700 care packages, over 75 cases of water, 500 high-quality sleeping bags, and 400 solar-powered lanterns. These supplies were sourced with the support of partners such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Waldron Wealth, while logistics and fuel assistance were provided by MJ Trucking and FESCO, respectively. The relief team traversed Newcombe Valley, Beacon, Galleon, Fyffes Pen, Cambridge, Oxford, and Compound, ensuring aid reached families grappling with housing damage, loss of belongings, and prolonged power outages. Minister Green emphasized the critical nature of the intervention, particularly in addressing the widespread devastation to the electrical system, including the Maggotty power generation plant. Sarah Bicknell of Tank-Weld Metals Ltd underscored the company’s commitment to aiding recovery with dignity and comfort. The effort was bolstered by a dedicated volunteer team, praised by Kenneisha Campbell, Coordinator of the Relief Command Centre, for their heart and teamwork. The initiative now moves into its second phase, focusing on rebuilding homes, clearing roads, and restoring stability to the constituency.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Adli Lewis, the principal of Seaside Primary School in Portland, Jamaica, has garnered widespread acclaim for his innovative efforts to support the community. Recognizing the struggles faced by families left without power, Lewis transformed the school into a vital resource center, offering ironing facilities for parents and students alike.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the JN Group, in collaboration with local and corporate partners, has launched a vital initiative to offer psychosocial support to residents in southern Trelawny, Jamaica. The Category 5 storm left many grappling with emotional and physical devastation, prompting the JN Group to step in with comprehensive relief efforts.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant move to address the escalating impacts of climate change, Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, has praised the establishment of the Higher Education Disaster Task Force (HEDE) by the nation’s tertiary institutions. This initiative, formed in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, aims to bolster scientific research, policy planning, and long-term resilience in the face of increasingly severe climate shocks.