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In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica on October 28, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has expressed growing frustration with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) over its handling of the crisis. The storm caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the southwestern parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Manchester, severely disrupting JPS infrastructure. However, even parishes less affected by the hurricane are experiencing significant power outages, leaving 462,000 of JPS’s approximately 700,000 customers without electricity as of Friday morning.

During a media briefing on Friday, Vaz emphasized the need for better communication from JPS, urging CEO Hugh Grant to adopt the approach used during Hurricane Beryl last year. Vaz criticized the lack of detailed updates, stating, ‘The communication that is coming out is not enough. Not enough to me and it’s not enough to those who’re affected. It’s not only about the amount of people who’ve been restored, it’s how many more are to be restored and what is the projection for them to be restored.’

Vaz highlighted the plight of residents in Kingston and St Andrew (KSA), where many remain without power. He stressed the importance of providing clear timelines for restoration, saying, ‘All they want to know, so that they can plan their business, is ‘what is the issue and when is it expected [to be resolved].’’

Grant assured Vaz that KSA would be fully restored by Sunday, but Vaz deemed this insufficient, demanding daily updates on restoration progress for all affected communities. He shared that KSA would be 90% restored by Sunday, St Thomas by midnight Sunday, and St Catherine by 75%. However, he called for more information on other parishes, including St Mary and Portland, where the majority of customers remain without electricity.

A detailed breakdown of outages shows alarming figures, with some parishes like Hanover, Manchester, St Ann, St Elizabeth, St James, St Mary, Trelawny, and Westmoreland experiencing 99% power loss. Vaz pledged to ensure JPS provides more detailed information and committed to overseeing full restoration in unaffected areas while developing a comprehensive plan for severely affected regions.

-Lynford Simpson

The historic town of Falmouth in Jamaica has suffered catastrophic damage following the onslaught of Hurricane Melissa, a category five storm that struck the island on Tuesday. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie revealed the extent of the destruction during a media briefing on Friday, after finally establishing contact with Falmouth Mayor Colin Gager. The mayor’s report painted a grim picture of the devastation, describing widespread destruction of key infrastructure and public facilities. Among the severely damaged structures are the municipal building, infirmary, courthouse, fire station, and markets. The drop-in center, which served as a shelter during the hurricane, was flooded and rendered unusable. Similar destruction was reported in other parishes, including St James and St Elizabeth, where municipal buildings, infirmaries, and fire stations were also heavily impacted. Communication remains a critical issue in the five worst-hit parishes—St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St James, Trelawny, and Hanover—with authorities planning to deploy Starlink technology to restore connectivity. Additionally, the hurricane has severely disrupted the revenue base of municipal corporations, prompting an urgent assessment to mitigate the financial fallout.

In a decisive move to bolster recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the Jamaican government has announced a temporary suspension of Import Duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) on a wide range of essential goods. This tax relief initiative, effective from October 29 to November 28, aims to streamline the importation and distribution of critical supplies to those impacted by the disaster. The suspension applies to both individual and organizational importers, covering items such as cleaning products, clothing, mattresses, toiletries, and non-perishable food items. Additionally, the list includes emergency equipment like generators, tents, and water purification kits, though some items may require pre-approval or permits. Jamaica Customs emphasized that goods imported before October 29 are ineligible for this relief, and other fees such as the Environmental Levy and Customs Administrative Fee remain applicable. This measure is designed to alleviate the financial burden on affected communities and expedite the delivery of much-needed resources during this challenging period.

In response to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, the Golden Krust restaurant group has spearheaded a significant relief campaign in the United States, aiming to raise over US$250,000. This initiative supports on-the-ground relief efforts coordinated by The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ). Golden Krust, the first Caribbean-owned business in the U.S. to secure a franchise license, has mobilized its network of over 100 restaurants to establish a relief fund, kickstarted by a US$10,000 contribution from the company. Customers dining at Golden Krust locations can also contribute by adding donations of $1, $3, or $5 at checkout, with all proceeds directly aiding Hurricane Melissa relief. The fundraising campaign will continue until the end of the year. Additionally, Golden Krust has introduced the ‘Boxes of Hope’ initiative, enabling customers to donate essential relief goods, which will be shipped directly to affected areas in Jamaica. Steven Clarke, Vice President of Marketing at Golden Krust, emphasized the company’s commitment to community and compassion, values rooted in its Jamaican heritage. He stated, ‘In collaboration with AFJ and our partners, we are dedicated to providing meaningful support and hope to those devastated by Hurricane Melissa.’ The campaign unites Golden Krust, AFJ, and a coalition of trusted organizations, including the NCB Foundation, Food For The Poor, Global Empowerment Mission, Sanmerna Foundation, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, JetBlue, and Dennis Shipping, to deliver comprehensive aid to Jamaica.

In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been tasked with escorting fuel tankers into the most severely affected parishes. This critical measure aims to facilitate the recovery of communities by ensuring uninterrupted fuel distribution. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz announced during a media briefing that Petrojam, the state-owned oil refinery, commenced loading tankers for islandwide delivery at 6:00 AM on Friday. Vaz emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that fuel supplies in some areas, particularly in the western part of the island, are critically low or depleted. To address this, he convened a meeting with marketing companies and fuel suppliers at 11:30 AM on Friday to coordinate efforts through the National Works Agency and the police. The focus is on delivering fuel, including alternative sources and LPG, to sustain operations and support affected residents. Vaz expressed optimism that, with roads being cleared or partially cleared, fuel deliveries could be expedited with police escorts to ensure timely access.

In the wake of the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, attorney and social justice advocate Christina Williams has urgently called for a unified approach to coordinate volunteer relief efforts across Jamaica. The Category 5 hurricane, which struck the island on Monday and Tuesday, unleashed torrential rains and fierce winds, causing widespread destruction to infrastructure and displacing numerous residents.