标签： Jamaica

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.

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Attorney Thomas Levene has issued an urgent plea for the relocation of 65 prisoners currently detained at the Black River Police Station, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane has left the station’s lower section completely flooded, creating inhumane conditions for both detainees and police personnel. Levene highlighted the dire situation, stating that the prisoners lack access to basic necessities such as food and clean water. He emphasized that the crisis extends beyond the police station, with the entire Black River community facing severe distress. Residents are grappling with flooding, water shortages, and a lack of shelter, prompting Levene to call for a potential evacuation of the area. The attorney urged authorities to act swiftly to relocate the prisoners and provide emergency relief to affected residents, stressing the need for immediate intervention to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.

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.

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 heartbreaking incident in Trelawny, Jamaica, one man has lost his life, and another is fighting for survival after inhaling toxic fumes from a standby generator. The deceased, identified as 40-year-old Gayon Dunbar, resided in Carey Park, Trelawny. The tragic event unfolded on Wednesday night when Dunbar and his companion were sleeping inside a furniture shop on 85 Market Street, Falmouth. Unbeknownst to them, the generator was operating within the confined space, leading to the fatal exposure. Early Thursday morning, a concerned friend discovered the two men in distress and rushed them to the Falmouth Public General Hospital. Dunbar was pronounced dead upon arrival, while his friend remains in critical condition. The community is in shock, mourning the loss of Dunbar, described as a quiet and hardworking individual who was a baker by profession and a devoted father of five. His sister, Cordia Moulton, expressed her grief, stating she is unable to break the news to their mother, who is currently a patient at the same hospital. Residents of 85 Market Street, also known as ‘Ghetto,’ are devastated, remembering Dunbar as a kind and helpful neighbor. The incident has left the community grappling with the sudden loss and the dangers of improper generator usage.

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

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage through Jamaica, communication systems collapsed, leaving countless families isolated and desperate for news of their loved ones. On Wednesday, Jamaicans from across the island, including some from as far as Kingston, flocked to St Elizabeth in a determined effort to locate their relatives and assess the damage to their properties. The journey was fraught with challenges, as downed trees and power lines turned what should have been a 15-minute drive into a grueling five-hour ordeal. Among the travelers was an amputee known as ‘One Foot Carl,’ who, armed with a power saw and gasoline, joined a slow-moving caravan of vehicles to help clear the roads. Supported by his crutches, Carl worked alongside Jamaica Defence Force soldiers to remove blockades, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Another traveler, Jerome Steadman, made light of the situation, joking about his sister sharing the hurricane’s name. Despite a flat tire, Steadman remained undeterred in his mission to check on his home in Kingston, which he feared had been flattened by the storm. Stefan Wisdom, traveling with his infant son and Steadman, was also on a mission to salvage what remained of his house, which a friend had reported as destroyed. In Lacovia, residents recounted their harrowing experiences of battling the hurricane to preserve their lives and property. Mario White, who sheltered behind a single sheet of zinc for three hours, described how the storm forced him to retreat with his TV and medication as everything around him began to lift off. Omar Perry, another Lacovia resident, fought tirelessly to keep his front door from blowing off, only to find his partner’s shop flattened and carried across the road by the storm. Despite his exhaustion, Perry was determined to rebuild his roof to provide shelter for his family. Shantalea Kerr and her brother Shawn, who had evacuated their home fearing the storm’s strength, returned to find their family house leaning to the side, its roof gone. Shawn, who had sought refuge in a car during the storm, recounted how the wind had flipped open the car’s bonnet, cracking the windscreen. Despite the overwhelming destruction, the residents of St Elizabeth remained resolute, refusing to abandon their journey to access other affected areas like Holland Bamboo and Black River. Their determination and resilience in the face of such devastation serve as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Jamaican people.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Trelawny, Jamaica, witnessed a significant police presence on Wednesday as officers worked tirelessly to clear the extensive damage left by the storm. A dedicated team of 30 police personnel, under the leadership of Superintendent Velonique Campbell, took to the streets armed with chainsaws and machetes to remove fallen trees that had obstructed major roadways.