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Ackeeno Cole, a determined farmer from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, has vowed to rebuild his life and livelihood after Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, ravaged his farm. Despite losing nearly all his livestock and crops, Cole remains steadfast in his resolve to recover and continue his agricultural pursuits.

The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica’s tourism industry in shambles, with cancelled trips, shuttered attractions, and tour guides forced to sit idle. The Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall on Jamaica’s south-western coast, caused widespread destruction across western and north-western parishes, severely impacting the island’s tourism sector. O’Brien Sterling, operator of O’Brien and Sons Ja Tours in Montego Bay, is among the many guides whose livelihoods have been disrupted. Sterling, who connects visitors with Jamaica’s culture, history, and natural beauty, has seen his main source of income wiped out. ‘Everything just get stuck right now because I do tours, but now nothing nah gwaan. Tourism, for now, to how me see it, it on a pause,’ he lamented. Sterling had 12 visitors booked for November, but all cancelled due to the storm. He believes the industry will take time to recover, and tourists would not enjoy their visits given the current state of the island. Sterling, who also runs a car wash business, highlighted the struggles of his peers who rely solely on tourism. Delroy Dove, caretaker of Johns Hall Adventure Tours, faced personal devastation as his home and business were destroyed. ‘Right now, everything on pause because the place mash down,’ Dove said, pointing to the ruins of his property. Despite his injuries and the near-death experience of being trapped in his collapsing home, Dove remains hopeful for the sector’s recovery. ‘To them [tourists] Jamaica is a blessed country, so they will want to come look and give a little help,’ he said. The storm’s impact has been devastating not only for businesses but also for the people who depend on tourism for their livelihoods. Devral, another caretaker, expressed the dire situation: ‘If this never happened, we would have had tours going on.’ The road to recovery for Jamaica’s tourism industry remains uncertain, with guides and attractions grappling with the extensive damage left by Hurricane Melissa.

Truck operators in southern St James are urgently appealing for government assistance to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck on October 28. The relentless floodwaters not only damaged their vehicles but also exposed underlying issues exacerbated by poor drainage from a nearby highway construction project. Clyde Maxwell, owner of Maxwell Trucking in Irwin, St James, emphasized that the disaster was not purely natural. ‘It’s since the highway started being built. It’s not the hurricane that did this, it’s the water,’ he stated. Maxwell reported that at least 11 trucks in his garage, along with several others nearby, were ‘totally damaged,’ with approximately 21 motorcars also affected. The truckers, numbering about 20, primarily haul construction materials and containers for their livelihoods. While a full assessment is pending, Maxwell estimated losses in the millions of dollars, with his own repair costs alone reaching $2 million. Small operators, who rely solely on their trucks for income, are particularly vulnerable. Maxwell stressed that they are not seeking charity but rather loans to repair their vehicles and resume operations. ‘We wouldn’t mind if we could get somebody to talk to us. We are not looking for a handout, but if we could get support, if you can give each man a loan, I know every man would repay it,’ he said. Franklin Garrison, another trucker, called on the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce to consider duty-free concessions or shell licences to facilitate the import of replacement vehicle parts. ‘We need some type of waiver,’ he urged. The truckers are now left in a state of uncertainty, unsure how to rebuild their businesses and livelihoods in the aftermath of the disaster.

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica two weeks ago, Melissa Hutchinson Malcolm found herself in an ironic and perilous situation. While attempting to secure her mother’s house in Jericho, Hanover, Hutchinson Malcolm broke her right leg as the storm ravaged the area. The house, which included an attached shop, collapsed, trapping her, her two sons, her mother, and three others. As they tried to escape, the hurricane lifted part of the shop, striking her foot and causing the injury. Despite the trauma, Hutchinson Malcolm found humor in the irony of being injured by a hurricane bearing her name. She expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal, acknowledging that many others were not as fortunate. The 41-year-old chef, now temporarily unemployed due to the storm’s impact on the tourism industry, faces challenges in her recovery. She relies on crutches and a chair to move around her home, which is on an incline. Hutchinson Malcolm has appealed for assistance to cover transportation, food, and medical expenses. Her mother, Janet Gray, also shared her harrowing experience of losing her home and shop but remains hopeful about rebuilding. Gray emphasized the importance of resilience, stating, ‘While there is life, there is hope.’ Both women are thankful to be alive, despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.