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KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sherine Scarlett, a former dancer turned entrepreneur widely recognized as Sher Luxury Doll, is spearheading a crucial relief initiative for communities ravaged by Category Five Hurricane Melissa. Through her business, Sher Luxury Beauty, and with the aid of her supporters, Scarlett and her team have successfully delivered 500 care packages to families in the Westmoreland communities of Petersfield, Bluefields, and Savanna-la-Mar, as well as St Elizabeth.

In an interview with Observer Online on Friday, Scarlett expressed her deep empathy for those affected. ‘I hate to see kids crying and people crying, and I know that I can help,’ she said. She emphasized that her efforts are driven purely by personal philanthropy rather than organizational backing. ‘It’s not no bag of money, it’s just the goodness of my heart make mi a try fi help out because, trust me, the people need the help,’ she added.

Scarlett highlighted the unwavering support she has received from Jamaicans over the years, which motivates her to give back. ‘People support me naturally long before mi did stop dance… So for me, the support that they always giving me, and even now with my products— I ship products daily straight throughout Jamaica— so if I can give back from what they have given me, I have no problem doing that,’ she shared.

Her team is making a concerted effort to reach the most severely impacted areas, often venturing into remote and hard-to-access locations that larger relief vehicles cannot navigate. ‘Where we go, people say it’s the first they see people there. We’re going in the… crevices where we know them nah go get fi go…We’re using bus and cars and vans and we try to go in some areas that most persons are not gonna think to go to help. I would love to go back and try to go to more and more of those communities to help,’ Scarlett explained.

To sustain and expand her relief efforts, Scarlett is appealing for additional donations of food, water, sanitary products, clothing, blankets, tarpaulin, or cash. Interested donors can find more details on her Instagram pages, @sherluxurydolll or @sherluxurybeautybar, or contact her via WhatsApp at (876)-420-6016.

Scarlett’s hands-on approach has already made a significant impact, as she personally distributed essential supplies to children and families affected by the hurricane. Her dedication to helping those in need underscores the power of community-driven initiatives in times of crisis.

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Robert Nesta Morgan, Minister with Responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, has pledged unwavering support to the residents of Trelawny Southern. The hurricane left a trail of destruction, severely damaging road infrastructure, homes, and destabilizing the soil across the constituency. Minister Morgan, accompanied by Member of Parliament Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert and representatives from the National Works Agency (NWA), conducted an extensive tour of the hardest-hit communities on Friday to evaluate the devastation firsthand.

During the visit, Minister Morgan highlighted the extensive damage caused by the hurricane, emphasizing the urgent need for recovery efforts. ‘We have seen houses damaged, road infrastructure compromised, and the soil rendered unstable,’ he stated. The NWA has been fully mobilized to restore critical road access and facilitate emergency operations. ‘The NWA is working tirelessly to create pathways for emergency services and enable residents to resume their daily activities,’ Morgan explained. He cautioned residents about the reduced safety of certain roads, which are now single-lane with breakaways, urging them to exercise caution.

Despite the challenges, recovery efforts are progressing steadily. Minister Morgan assured residents that relief supplies are being prioritized, though road damage has hindered delivery. ‘Help is on the way; we just want you to bear with us,’ Dalrymple-Philibert reassured the community. The government remains committed to restoring normalcy and providing essential support to those affected by the hurricane.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA — As Jamaica continues its recovery efforts following the devastating Category Five Hurricane Melissa, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has highlighted the severe impact on the island’s wildlife, particularly its bird population. The agency is calling on citizens to play an active role in aiding the recovery of these vulnerable species.

In a significant move to support regional journalism, the S Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has announced the transformation of its S Club facility into a dedicated operations base for media personnel in western Jamaica. This initiative, unveiled on Friday, aims to address the critical challenges journalists face, including unreliable phone connectivity and intermittent email access, exacerbated by the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Christopher Issa, the hotel’s owner, emphasized the importance of a free and independent press in a functioning democracy. ‘We are very happy to be able to do this… especially at a time when journalists are facing significant hurdles in accessing the tools they need to do their work,’ Issa stated. He highlighted the hotel’s commitment to providing a stable environment where journalists can access emails, make phone calls, and produce accurate content for the public.

Ann-Marie Goffe Pryce, the hotel’s general manager, reinforced this commitment, stating, ‘Ensuring that our regional journalists have a reliable workspace is a responsibility we take seriously. The S Club will offer consistent connectivity and a conducive environment, enabling them to focus on delivering trustworthy news.’ She added that this partnership underscores the hotel’s dedication to community support and the integrity of information, particularly during the recovery phase post-Hurricane Melissa.

Janet Silvera, President of the Western Jamaica Media Association (WJMA), praised the initiative, describing the extreme conditions journalists have endured, including camping at police stations or pulling over on highways to access the internet. ‘Providing a base with consistent connectivity and workspace is a meaningful intervention that will help reporters deliver timely, accurate stories,’ Silvera explained. She also lauded the collaboration as a model for future emergencies, highlighting the importance of stable information channels in times of crisis.

The S Hotel, renowned for its community stewardship, will grant journalists access to the S Club during designated hours, ensuring a reliable space for filing stories, conducting interviews, and coordinating dispatches. This initiative not only aids journalists in the immediate recovery period but also establishes a sustainable framework for supporting media operations during future emergencies, reinforcing the critical role of journalism in national resilience.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica, the government has initiated a robust, multi-pronged response to aid micro and small businesses in their recovery efforts. Delano Seiveright, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), underscored the urgency of the situation, describing it as ‘Herculean and multifaceted.’ He revealed that Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness and Senator Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, have already issued directives and convened strategic meetings to expedite the revival of small enterprises.

Residents of St James, Jamaica, were left in a state of alarm on Friday afternoon as powerful winds swept through several communities, evoking memories of past severe weather events. South St James bore the brunt of the phenomenon, with locals describing the experience as both sudden and unsettling. Marcia Anderson, a resident of the Tangle River community, recounted the moment the winds began to howl. “We saw trees and bamboo swaying violently, and leaves flying everywhere, but it stopped shortly after,” she told Observer Online. Anderson also noted the eerie change in the atmosphere, saying, “The place turned white as if heavy rain was imminent, but it never came.” Her concerns were heightened by a call from a relative overseas who had warned of a potential weather system that might impact the region. “I thought this was it,” she admitted, though the winds subsided quickly. Another resident from the Meadows of Irwin community, who chose to remain anonymous, described the event as deeply traumatic. “I nearly had a panic attack,” she said, drawing parallels to the destructive Hurricane Melissa. She reported sustained showers accompanying the winds, which soaked her patio and caused water to seep through her bedroom window. “It felt like it lasted 20 minutes,” she added, emphasizing the intensity of the experience. While the winds eventually died down, the incident left many residents on edge, reminding them of the vulnerability of their communities to sudden weather changes.