Post-Melissa Update: Relief & Aid

Our hearts go out to the families grieving the tragic loss of loved ones in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. In this difficult time, let us also pause to reach out with compassion to those among us who continue to face immense challenges following the storm’s passage.

While the impact on our St Andrew North West Constituency is far less severe than the heartbreaking devastation in Western Jamaica, many in our community are still hurting and in urgent need of support. On November 4th, the Prime Minister announced an allocation in Parliament for relief supplies and assistance.

This support will be directed with care and fairness to help our most vulnerable neighbours. If you or someone you know needs help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local councillors, my office, or through this website—we are here for you.

Our hearts ache for families mourning loved ones lost to Hurricane Melissa. Let’s also wrap our arms around those still struggling in its wake—heroes like Narva Maxwell Taylor, who battled floodwaters to save her family as their home vanished, or Keith in New Hope, emerging from hours behind plywood to find everything gone but his unbreakable spirit.

Western Jamaica bears the deepest scars, yet our St Andrew North West community hurts too. On November 4th, Prime Minister Dr The Most Honourable Andrew Holness announced targeted relief:

• $10M per constituency in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny

• $5M each in St. Ann, Manchester, Clarendon

• $3M for others, including St Andrew North West

  
  

For water trucking:

• $2M each in hardest-hit parishes

• $1.5M for St. Catherine, St. Andrew, Clarendon, St. Ann

“It’s fair, based on what we’ve endured,” Dr. Holness said. “Letters are coming.”

This aid will flow with care to our most vulnerable. Need help? Reach your councillor, my office, or this website—we’re here, ready to rebuild together.

With the assistance of the local authority and its engineering department, we will assess the infrastructural damage within the constituency and thereafter seek to have it addressed in the shortest possible time. Site visits have already commenced across the constituency and will continue in the coming days.

Again, I urge all constituents to contact my office for assistance and information. As best as we are able, let us donate and support our brothers and sisters in western Jamaica. Donations can be made to ODPEM via supportjamaica.gov.jm.